FRUITS OF THE MYRTLE FAMILY 311 



guava but less pleasant. This plant, sometimes listed as 

 Campomanesia Fenzliana, Glaziou, has been introduced into 

 Florida, where it grows well and has withstood a temperature of 

 26 above zero without injury. The fruit is used in the same 

 manner as the guava, but is not of great value. 



Downy myrtle (Rhodomyrtus tomentosa, Wight). 



This myrtle is a small, handsome shrub, valuable as an orna- 

 mental plant as well as for its fruit. The leaves are elliptic or 

 obovate, obtuse, 1 to 2J inches long. The rose-pink flowers 

 are followed by round fruits somewhat resembling a large black 

 currant in size and character. The downy myrtle (sometimes 

 called hill-gooseberry) is probably best known in southern 

 India, where it occurs commonly in the mountains. It is said 

 by H. F. Macmillan to succeed in Ceylon only at high elevations. 

 It is grown also in southern China, and to a very limited extent 

 in Florida and California. It withstands ^Jeveral degrees of 

 frost. The fruits are said to make excellent pies, and they 

 may also be eaten out of hand. Sir Joseph* Hooker says that 

 they are used in India to prepare a jam called theonti. The 

 plant is not particular regarding soil, and is Readily propagated 

 by means of seeds, which should be sown in flats of light soil and 

 covered to a depth of -|- inch. The botanical name Myrtus 

 tomentosa, Aiton, is sometimes given it. Everything considered, 

 the downy myrtle should repay wider cultivation than it receives 

 at present. 



