436 ORDER MYRTACE.E ; PIMENTO, EUCALYPTUS. 



of cloves, cinnamon, and nutmegs. They yield an oil which 

 much resembles that of cloves. The pleasant fruits called the 

 Rose Apple and the Jamrozade of the East Indies, and the Guava 

 of the West Indies, are the succulent berries of shrubs of the 

 Myrtle tribe ; as is also the Pomegranate, which was originally 

 a native of Barbary, but has now migrated to Europe. The 

 volatile oil of Cajeputi is distilled from the leaves of an Indian 

 species ; this has long been known as a valuable external applica- 

 tion in rheumatism ; and, for a short time, it enjoyed the repu- 

 tation of being a specific for the Indian cholera. The leaves of 

 another species are used by the Malays as tea. 



604. There is a remarkable division of the Myrtle tribe, in 

 which the fruit is dry, instead of being a berry, and opens at the 

 top. The greater part of the species belonging to it are natives 

 of New Holland ; and amongst these may be specially mentioned 

 the Eucalyptus or Gum-tree. This is destitute of corolla; and 

 the calyx has the sepals adherent very closely together, so as 

 completely to envelop the stamens. When these expand, how- 

 ever, the upper part of the calyx separates from the lower, and 

 is carried off upon the top of the stamens, very much as in the 

 Eschscholtzia (. 525). The Eucalypti are distinguished for 

 their astringency; and the tannin which they yield has been 

 extracted from their bark, and used in the manufacture of leather. 

 An Indian species affords an astringent extract, which has been 

 substituted for Kino. 



605. This order is almost entirely restricted to warm climates. 

 A large number of species is found in South America and in the 

 East Indies ; whilst, of the latter division of the group, a consi- 

 derable proportion exists in New Holland and the South Sea 

 Islands. The common Myrtle of this country is a native of the 

 South of Europe ; and it is well known that this beautiful ever- 

 green is liable to great injury, and even to be destroyed, if not 

 carefully protected from the cold of our severe winters. 



606. The order CUCURBITACE^J, or Gourd tribe, is not a large 

 one, but it contains several species which are highly useful to 

 Man, such as the various kinds of Melon, Cucumber, Gourd, &c. 

 These plants are all herbaceous, and grow by twining stems, 



