2096 



MYRSINE 



of branches, leathery, obovate-oblong, rounded or 

 notched at top, revolute at margin, rusty and dotted 

 beneath, devoid of pellucid dots: fls. sessile or very 

 nearly so; corolla rotate, whitish, much longer than 

 the purple-spotted sepals: drupe small (^in. diam.), 

 bluish or black. S. Fla. to 

 Brazil and Paraguay. 



L. H. B. 



MYRSIPHYLLUM : Aspara- 

 gus. 



MYRTILLOCACTUS 



(berry and cactus). Cactacex. 

 Usually large trees or shrubs 

 with very many branches in 

 the wild state, but in culti- 

 vation often small, with 

 few or no branches. 



Stems with few angles or 

 ribs: fls. very small, several 

 in a cluster, diurnal, with 

 short tubes and widely 

 spreading petals: fr. 

 a small edible berry. 

 The genus con- 

 tains 3 or 4 species. 



geome trizans, 

 Console (Cereus geo- 

 metrizans, Mart.). 

 Plants 10-15 ft. high: 

 ribs 5-9, obtuse, with 

 broad intervals: 

 spines 3-6, the cen- 

 tral one much longer 

 and dagger-shaped: 

 fr. the size of an olive, 

 bluish, much eaten by 

 the Mexicans. Com- 

 mon on the tableland 

 of Cent, and S. Mex. 



2427. Myrtus communis. ( X Yd 



Cochal, Brit. & Rose (Cereus Cochal, Orcutt). Said 

 to grow 10 ft. high: ribs 4-8, obtuse: spines few, the 

 central not so long as in the last: fr. said to be red. Low. 

 Calif. Not common, and not to be recommended for 

 small collections. j N ROSE. 



MYRTLE: Myrtus communis. Crape M.: Lagerstrcemia. 

 Running M.: Vinca minor and others. Sand M.: Leiophyllum. 



MYRTUS (Myrtos, the ancient Greek name). Myrta- 

 cese. MYRTLE. Mostly shrubs, grown for the aromatic 

 qualities, attractive foliage, flowers and fruits. 



Leaves opposite, entire, penniveined, usually 

 aromatic: fls. white or rose-tinged, axillary, 1 to many, 

 the central on short lateral or long pedicels; calyx-tube 

 turbinate, 5- (rarely 4-) lobed, usually persistent; petals 

 5 (rarely 4); stamens numerous, in several rows, free; 

 ovule 2-3-celled: fr. a berry, adnate to, or included in 

 the calyx-tube. A genus of perhaps 70 species, mostly 

 subtropical natives of S. Amer. and Austral., but also 

 in S. Eu. and W. Asia. Some of the myrtles are now 

 referred to Eugenia and other genera. In common 

 speech, the word myrtle is applied to other small- 

 Ivd. evergreens as to the vincas or periwinkles. 



Myrtles are grown in pots for greenhouse, window or 

 room decorations, or in California and the South as out- 

 door ornamental shrubs. In pots, they make excellent 

 lawn and terrace plants, being given protection in 

 winter. They are easily cultivated and readily propa- 

 gated from firm or partially ripened cuttings. They like 

 an abundance of water in summer. 



commftnis, Linn. The classic MYRTLE. Fig. 2427. A 

 handsome evergreen shrub, 3-10 ft. or more (sometimes 

 a small tree) high, both fls. and Ivs. strongly scented: 

 Ivs. small in the variety usually cult., ovate or lanceo- 

 late, entire, smooth and shining, acute, coriaceous: 

 peduncles solitary, 1-fld., length of Ivs. or shorter, bear- 



ing 2 linear bractlets below the white and reddish 

 pretty fls.: berry blue-black. Azores to Beluchistan; 

 well known in the Medit. region. G.C. III. 45 : 18. 

 Several varieties are cult., which differ chiefly in the 

 shape and size of the Ivs. and in stature; there is also a 

 variegated form. Makes a good hedge in S. Fla. Ever- 

 blooming in S. Calif. It blooms in 2-3 years from cut- 

 tings in England. Following are some of the impor- 

 tant named forms: Var. melanocarpa, DC. Fr. black. 

 Var. leucocarpa, DC. Fr. white. Var. latifolia, Hort. 

 Lvs. very broad. G. W. 6, p. 595. Var. microphylla, 

 Hort. Lvs. small, dark green, linear-lanceolate and 

 long-pointed. Var. mucronata, Linn. Lvs. linear-lan- 

 ceolate, acuminate. Var. lusitanica, Linn. Lvs. lanceo- 

 late-ovate, acute. Var. italica, Mill. Shoots or branches 

 nearly or quite erect, the Ivs. rather small, ovate-lanceo- 

 late, sharp-pointed. Var. boetica, Mill. Branches short, 

 Ivs. crowded and thickish rather large, broadly ovate- 

 lanceolate. Var. belgica, Mill. Lvs. broad-lanceolate, 

 long-sharp-pointed. Var. angustifolia, Hort. Lvs. me- 

 dium size, lanceolate. Var. romana, Mill. Lvs. broad- 

 ovate, large, sharp-pointed, light green, often 3-4 at a 

 node. Var. tarentina, Mill. Shoots short, Ivs. ranged 

 in 4 rows, short, ovate, sharp-pointed. Of some of the 

 above, there are forms with variegated and white-mar- 

 gined Ivs. and double forms. The different manifesta- 

 tions of Myrtus communis appear not to have been 

 given adequate trial. It is not unlikely that the sum- 

 mers are too hot for them even where the winters are 

 not too frosty; but there must be localities where they 

 can be grown and treatments under protection of build- 

 ings or walls that would cause them to thrive. In ancient 

 times, wreaths of myrtle were worn by magistrates and 

 by victors. The plant yields perfumery, and the green 

 and dried frs. are sometimes used as condiments. The 

 wood is very hard and of interesting texture and grain. 



Arayan, HBK. Lvs. 1-2 in. long, ovate-oblong, 

 acute, membranaceous, reticulate, glabrous and shining: 

 pedicels axillary, solitary, 1-fld., 2-bracted; fls. size of 

 M. communis; calyx 5-parted: fr. globose, red, 2- 

 celled and 2-seeded. Peru. Listed in S. Calif. 



Ugni, Molina (Eugenia Ugni, Hook. & Am. Ugni 

 Molmse, Turcz.). UGNI or CHILEAN GUAVA. As usually 

 seen under cult., a shrub 4 ft. high, but in its native 

 habitat it is said to become a tree 100 ft. high: pedicels 

 1-fld.: berry purple, glossy, edible, with a pleasant 

 odor and taste. Chile; hardy in S. Calif. B.M. 4626. 

 R.H. 1879, p. 409. Wood very hard and heavy, much 

 used in Chile for press-screws, and select implements. 



M. LuTOa=Eugenia apiculata, p. 1163. M. macrophylla, 

 Spreng. =Eugenia malaccensis, p. 1163. M. tomentosa, Soland.= 

 Rhodomyrtus tomentosa. j BtJRTT DAVY. L. H. B.f 



MYSTACIDIUM (Greek, on account of bearded 

 appendages of the column). Orchidacese. In habit 

 resembling Angracum. Sepals and petals similar, 

 lip immovably attached to base of column, furnished 

 with a long thin basal spur, either entire 

 or 3-lobed ; column short, straight; 

 pollina upon 2 separate stalks. About 

 20 species, in Afr. Cult, of angraecum. 



distichum, Pfitz. (Angrsecum 

 distichum, Lindl.). Fig. 2428. 

 Sts. 3-6 in. long, simple or 

 branched: Ivs. fleshy, distich- 

 ous, grooved above, 

 laterally compressed: 

 fls. axillary, small, 

 white. Sierra Leone. 

 B. M. 4145. B. R. 

 1781. 



M. gradllimum, Rolfe. 

 Scapes very slender; fls. 

 white; spur long and very 

 slender. Uganda. 



GEORGE V. NASH. 2428. Mystacidium distichum. 



