1054 



MYRISTICA 



MYRTUS 



and Nutmeg are shown in Fig. 1453. For a full illus- 

 trated and historical account of the Nutmeg, see B.M. 

 2756-7 (1827). L. H. B. 



The Nutmeg tree requires a position in well-sheltered, 

 hot, moist valleys in the tropics from sea-level up to 

 400 or 500 fe.et; it Mail grow and produce fruit in Ja- 



1452. Myristica fragrans the Nutmeg (X 

 The upper sprays are from the staminate tree. 



maica up to 2,000 feet, but the fruit is not so abundant 

 nor the nut so large as at lower elevations. The soil 

 must be a deep, rich loam, well drained. The seedlings 

 have a tap-root which is very easily injured in trans- 

 planting. The method usually adopted for growing 

 them is to sow the seeds in bamboo pots, one in each. 

 When they are ready for planting in their permanent 

 places, the bamboo is slit, and the soil, with the plant, 

 gently put into the prepared hole. It is only when they 

 first flo^r that it is possible to tell the sex of the tree. 

 Nothing' is known of the conditions which determine 

 the sex. In Grenada, the usual proportion of male trees 

 to female is said to be as 3 to 1, though sometimes 40 or 

 50 trees close together will all be either male or female. 

 As the trees generally flower when they are 6 or 7 years 

 old, there is great waste in the growth of male trees. 

 In the Botanic Gardens in Jamaica, it has been found 

 possible to graft the Nutmeg, so that a loss of this kind 

 should not occur again; the plan is, take young seed- 

 lings and graft, by approach, the thinnest twigs of a 



female tree. 



WM. FAWCETT. 



MtRRHIS (from the Greek word for perfume). Um- 

 belliferte. MYRRH. SWEET CICELY. One perennial herb 

 native to Europe, and an immigrant to other countries, 

 sometimes grown in gardens for its pleasing scent and 

 anciently used as a flavoring in salads. In America 

 Myrrhis is represented by Osmorhiza, which is known 

 as Sweet Cicely. Two or three of the American plants 

 have been named under Myrrhis, but Coulter and Rose 

 (Revision N. Amer. Umbelliferae, 1888) contrast the two 

 genera and refer these species to Osmorhiza. Technical 

 characters distinguish the two genera. 



The Myrrh of the Arabs is the gum of Balsamodendron 



Myrrna, a burseraceous tree which is now referred 

 (Engler in DC. Monogr. Phaner. 4) to Commip*hora. 



odorata, Scop. MYRRH. Soft-hairy or pubescent, erect, 

 2-3 ft. : Ivs. thin and soft, 2-3-pinnate, with narrow- 

 toothed or pinnatifid segments : fls. small, whitish, in a 

 compound umbel which is devoid of a general involucre : 

 fr. K in. long, longitudinally ribbed. Eu. Herbage 

 sweet-scented. Rarely seen in this country. L H B 



MYRSlNE (an old Greek name for the Myrtle, of no 

 application; the Myrtle is Myrtus communis). Myrsin- 

 acece. About 80 widely scattered species of shrubs or 

 trees, of which M. floribunda, has been offered in Fla., 

 but is probably no longer cult. Glabrous or tomentose: 

 Ivs. leathery, mostly entire: fls. small, sessile or pedun- 

 cled, in axillary clusters, polygamo-dicecious; floral 

 parts in 4-5's: fr. a pea-shaped drupe, dry or fleshy, 

 1-stoned: seed globose. 



floribunda, R. Br. (M. fiapdnea, Roem. & Schult. 

 A. FloridcLna, A. DC.). Glabrous: Ivs. 3-4 in. long, 

 leathery, obovate, rounded or notched at top, revolute at 

 margin, rusty and dotted beneath, devoid of pellucid 

 dots: clusters of fls. peduncled : corolla imbricated. 

 S. Fla. to Uruguay. 



MYRSIPHYLLUM. Consult Asparagus. 



MYRTLE. Myrtus communis. Crape M. Lager- 

 strcemia. Running M. Vinda minor and others. Sand 

 M. Leiopliyllum. 



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

 cece. MYRTLE. Mostly shrubs: Ivs. opposite, entire, 

 penni-veined, 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 ge- 

 nus of perhaps 100 species, mostly subtropical natives 

 of S. America and Australia. 



Myrtles are grown in pots for greenhouse, window or 

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

 door ornamental shrubs. They are easily cultivated and 

 readily propagated from firm or partially ripened cut- 

 tings. They like an abundance of water in summer, and 

 should never be allowed to get quite dry at the roots. 



communis, Linn. The clas- 

 sic MYRTLE. A handsome 

 shrub, 3-10 ft. high, both fls. 

 and Ivs. strongly scented: 

 Ivs. small in the variety 

 usually cull .rated: pedun- 

 cles solitary, 1-fld., about 

 the length of the Ivs., bear- 

 ing 2 linear bractlets below 

 the fls. : berry black. July. 

 S. Eu. Several varieties 

 are cult., which differ chiefly 

 in the shape and size of the 

 Ivs.; there is also a varie- 

 gated form Makes a good 1453< Nutmegs ( X %). 

 * ed ? e *?' Everbloom- The upper specimens ghow 

 i to. Lalit. the aril or mace ; The lower 



left specimen shows the nut 

 after the mace is removed. 



Lu MA . Shrub 3 ft. or high- S^S 33. 8^ 

 er: peduncles 3- to 5- moved, disclosing the nut- 

 branched: fls. larger than meg. 

 those of M. communis. S. 

 Chile; hardy in S.Calif. and probably northward. 



Ugni, Molina (Eugenia Ugni). UGNI or CHILEAN 

 GUAVA. As usually seen under cult., this is 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. Wood very hard 

 and heavy, much used in Chile for press-screws, wheel- 

 spokes and select implements. Chile; hardy in S. Calif. 

 B.M. 4626. R.H. 1879, p. 409. 



M. tomentosa, Soland.=Rhodomyrtus tomentosa. 



J. BURTT DAVY. 



apiculdta, DC. E. Luma}. 



