346 ORDER 49. MYRTACE^E. 



in many rows, lanceolate, somewhat coriaceous and fleshy, colored; 

 stamens unequal, about 12, outer ones fertile; anthers extrorse ; pistils 

 few or many, inclosed in the calyx tube, fruit many times larger than 

 that of the rose, loosely enclosing the large achenia. The bark and 

 Ivs. exhale the odor of camphor. Fls. of a lurid purple. 



C. floridus L. Lvs. oval, mostly acute or acuminate, tomentous beneath; 

 branches spreading ; fls. nearly sessile. Fertile soils, along streams, Va. and all 

 the S. States. Not uncommon in gardens farther north, and valued for its ex- 

 quisite, strawberry-like fragrance. Shrub 3 to 7f high. Lvs. 3 to 5 to 7' long. 

 Fls. on short branches. Fr. rare, of the size and form of a fig, acute at base, 

 truncate and involute at top, longitudinally veined. (Sent by Prof. Pond.) 

 /?. L^EVIGATUS T. & G. Lvs. oblong or ovate-lanceolate, acuminate or gradually 

 acute, glabrous or somewhat scabrous above ; branches erect, f (C. laeviga- 

 tus Willd.) 



y. GLAUCUS T. & G. Lvs. oblong or ovate-lanceolate, much acuminate, large, 

 glaucous and glabrous or minutely downy beneath ; branches spreading, f 

 (C. glaucus Willd.) 



6. INODORUS T. & G. Lvs. lanceolate, scabrous and shining above, smooth be- 

 low ; branches spreading ; fls. inodorous. (G. inodorus Ell.) 



ORDER XLIX. MYRTACE^E. MYRTLEBLOOMS. 



Trees and shrubs, without stipules. Lvs. opposite, entire, punctate, usually with a 

 vein running close to the margin. Cal. adherent below to the compound ovary, 

 the limb 4 or 5-cleft, valvate. Petals as many as the segments of the calyx. 

 Stamens indefinite. Anthers introrse. Style and stigma simple. Fruit with many 

 seeds. Albumen none. 



A fine order of 45 genera and 1300 species, native of warm and torrid countries, especially of 

 8. America, and the E. Indies. 



Properties. A fragrant or pungent volatile oil, residing chiefly in the pellucid dotting of the 

 leaves, pervades the odor. The Caryophyllus aromaticus, native of Arabia, a tree about 20f in 

 height, yields the clove (clou, Fr. a nail), which is the dried flower. Cnjeput oil is distilled from 

 the leaves of the Melaleuca Cajeputi, native of the E. Indies. A kind of gum kino is obtained 

 from Eucalyptus resin ifera, also a native of India. The root of .the Pomegranate yields an ex- 

 tract which is an excellent vermifuge. All the genera are exotic with us. Alany of them are 

 highly ornamental in culture. 



1. MYR'TUS, Tourn. MYRTLE. (Gr. pvpov, perfume.) Calyx 5- 

 cleft ; petals 5 ; berry 2 or 3-celled ; radicle and cotyledons distinct. 

 Shrubs with evergreen Ivs. marked by a marginal vein. 



M. communis L. Lvs. oblong-ovate; fls. solitary; involucre- 2-leaved. 

 This popular shrub is a native of S. Europe. In this country it is reared only in 

 houses and conservatories. Leaves about 1 by 6'. Flowers white. Among tho 

 ancients it was a great favorite for its elegance of form, and its fragrant, ever- 

 green leaves. It was sacred to Venus. The brows of bloodless victors were 

 adorned with myrtle wreaths, and at Athens it was an emblem of civic au- 

 thority. 



2. PITNICA, L. POMEGRANATE. (Lat. punica, ; Carthaginian or 

 of Carthage, where it first grew.) Calyx 5-cleft ; petals 5 ; berry 

 many-celled, many-seeded, seeds baccate ; placenta parietal. Deci- 

 duous trees and shrubs. 



1 P. Granatum L. Arborescent ; Ivs. lanceolate, with no marginal vein. 

 A thorny bush when wild, from S. Europe, where it is sometimes used for 

 hedges like the hawthorn. In Flu., &c., it is a tree 15 to 20f high. Lvs. entire, 

 Smooth, 2 to 3' by 1 to 10", obtuse. The fls. are scarlet, large, and make a fino 

 appearance. The fr. is large, highly ornamental, and of a fine flavor. Much 

 care is Exquisite for its cultivation. It requires a rich loam, a sunny situa- 



