186 MYRTACE.E. 



22. MYRTACE.E. 



Calyx 4-5, rarely 6-cleft, its tube adhering to the 

 germen; imbricate in aestivation, the lobes sometimes 

 united, continuing closed, and falling off on the expan- 

 sion of the flowers. Petals equal in number to the 

 divisions of the calyx, quincunical in aestivation, rarely 

 more. Stamens two or three times the number of the 

 petals, or indefinite ; filaments either distinct or connate, 

 curved inwards before flowering; anthers ovate, two- 

 celled, with a longitudinal dehiscence. Ovarium 

 inferior, 1-6- celled ; style and stigma simple. Fruit 

 various, drupaceous, baccate, etc., many-celled and 

 seeded. Embryo exalbuminous, its radicle towards the 

 hilum, but sometimes conferruminate with the cotyle- 

 dons, forming one solid mass. 



Shrubs or trees with simple exstipulate, mostly oppo- 

 site leaves, having a vein running parallel to their 

 margin and dotted. Flowers never blue. 



Geographical Relations. Tropical plants, with a de- 

 cided tendency towards the equinoctial line, but repre- 

 sented in Europe. 



Properties. Stimulant and fragrant, from the volatile 

 oil they contain ; astringency is found in some. 



Officinal Plants. 



Caryophyllus aromaticus. (Eugenia caryophyllata) 

 Eugenia pimenta. (Myrtus pimenta) 

 Melaleuca leucadendron. 

 Punica granatum. 



