260 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



enlarged loculi containing pulp. Bentham and Hooker put this genus 

 into Lythraceae ; but its affinities seem rather with Myrtles, of which it 

 forms an anomalous genus. 



Distribution. A large Order, the members of which are distributed 

 throughout tropical and subtropical climates. 



Qualities and Uses. Generally aromatic from the presence of a volatile 

 oil, some astringent, and others yielding gums or saccharine juices. The 

 Myrtea are remarkable for their aromatic properties : thus Caryopliyllus 

 aromaticus furnishes the Cloves used for spice, consisting of the dried 

 unopened flower-buds; Eugenia Pimenta and E, acris, Allspice or Pimenio, 

 consisting of the dried fruits : the buds and berries of the common Myrtle 

 were used in a similar manner by the ancients. This tribe also affords 

 excellent fruits : the Guavas are yielded by species of Psidium, chiefly 

 pomiferum and pyriferum ; the Rose-apples by Eugenia malacccnsis, Jam- 

 bos, aquea, &c. j the Pomegranate, Punica Granafum, the rind of which 

 is also valuable for its astringent properties, which cause it to be used 

 both medicinally and for tanning. Among the Leptospermcce, the Cajeput, 

 (Melaleuca Cojeputi) is well known for it's acrid volatile oil, obtained by 

 distillation from the leaves. Metrosideros is a genus some of the species 

 of which form very striking features in the vegetation of New Zealand, 

 M. buxifolia and other species, called Aki, Rata, &c., overgrowing trees, 

 like the Ficus indica, and themselves ultimately becoming exceedingly 

 hard-wooded trees. The Eucalypti of Australia are still more remarkable 

 in many respects : some of them attain a height of 200 feet or more, and 

 a diameter of 10 to 15, rising to 100 or 150 feet clear of branches. The 

 bark of some of them separate in fibrous layers, whence they have derived 

 the common name of Stringy-barks. They are also called Gum-trees, 

 from containing a gummy or saccharine sap, occasionally of astringent 

 character. E. rolmsta secretes a red gum in the interior of the trunk ; 

 from E. mannifera a saccharine substance like manna is obtained. E. 

 Gunnii yields, when tapped, a sweet fluid, which is fermented into a 

 kind of beer. E. resinifera furnishes an astringent substance known as 

 Botany-Bay Kino. Other species also contain a sufficient quantity of 

 tannin to be of commercial importance, From their rapid growth they 

 have been introduced with good effect in marshy swamps and in dry hills 

 denuded of trees in the South of Europe. The leaves of some species of 

 Leptospermum and Melaleuca are used for Tea in the Australian colonies. 

 Many of the Myrtacese are cultivated on account of their beauty. The 

 common Myrtle, a native of Persia, naturalized in Southern Europe, bears 

 our winters, and flowers out of doors in the south-west of England. It 

 affords many beautiful varieties in cultivation. The species of Metrosideros, 

 Callistemon, &c., sometimes called Bottle-brush plants, have very curious 

 and showy blossoms. The Pomegranate flowers and fruits in sheltered 

 places, and bears a very brilliant blossom. 



LECYTHIDACE^E are chiefly distinguished from the Myrtaceae (with 

 which they are united by Bentham) by the dotless foliage and the hood- 

 like petaloid plate, consisting of concrete stamens, covering the middle 

 of the flower. The species are usually large trees ; their fruit is very re- 

 markable, consisting of a large woody case, the top of which sometimes 

 separates like a lid (Lecythis), whence they have been called Monkey- 



