THE MYRTLE FAMILY 



:MYRTACE^ R. Brown 



HIS family consists of about 75 genera, comprising some 2700 sj)ecies 

 of trees and shrubs, nearly all natives of warmer temperate regions 

 and of the tropics, where they especially abound. They are of con- 

 siderable economic importance, especially in the southern hemisphere, 

 where the Australian genus, Eucalyptus, is of the greatest value for timber and 

 otherwise. Several edible fruits are produced by species of various genera, espe- 

 cially Psidium and Eugenia; the important spices; Cloves, and Pimenta or All- 

 spice, are also products of this family. 



The Myrtacece have mostly opposite leaves, although in some genera they arc 

 alternate or whorled, usually pinnately veined, pellucid-punctate and abounding in 

 oil glands; there are no stipules. The flowers are regular and perfect, variously 

 clustered, the calyx-lobes 4 or 5 or more, valvate or imbricated, persistent, or cap- 

 hke and deciduous; the 4 or 5 petals are inserted on the margin of the disk or 

 wanting; the stamens are numerous, rarely as few as the calyx-lobes, their fila- 

 ments distinct or partly united near the base; anthers opening lengthwise; the 

 ovar}^ is inferior or partly so, and i- to several-celled; the style is terminal, rarely 

 lateral, and usually terminated by an entire stigma; ovules i or many. The fruit 

 is mostly indehiscent, often fleshy, usually crowned with the persistent calyx; the 

 seed is straight, round or angled, the coating paper}' or crustaceous; there is no 

 endosperm. Our arborescent genera are: 



Petals present; calyx-lobes persistent. 

 Calyx-lobes separating regularly. 



Inflorescence centripetal, racemose or umbellate, or contracted. 

 Inflorescence centrifugal, cymose. 

 Calyx-lobes separating irregularly. 

 Petals absent; calyx-lobes coming off like a cap. 

 American trees; seeds i or 2. 

 Introduced from Australia; seeds many. 



1. Eugenia. 



2. Anamomis. 



3. Psidiuw. 



4. Calyptranthcs. 



5. Eucalyptus. 



I. THE STOPPERS 



GENUS EUGENIA [:MICHELI] LINN.EUS 



UGENIA comprises some 600 species of tropical evergreen aromatic 

 trees or shrubs, common in America and Asia, less abundant in Africa. 

 ^*^| Some of their fruits are large and edible; the bark and leaves of 

 ymrA^.,.uM [ gQj^g ^j-g medicinal; the fruits and flowers of others are used as spices, 

 and the fruit of the typical species, Eugenia uni flora Linna?us, the Surinam cherr}-, 

 is edible. 



723 



