MYRTACEJE. 339 



indefinite number of stamens. Ordinarily, the Myrtacece are compared 

 only with families with an inferior ovary ; this is because it is not 

 generally known that certain of them have an ovary almost com- 

 pletely superior, as is the case in several species of Tristania and 

 Meirosideros of the section Xantliostemon. Then let the cells of this 

 ovary be more or less incomplete, and the stamens united in fascicles; 

 let the leaves also be opposite and punctuate, and it will be difficult 

 to decide if the plants in which these characters are united belong to 

 the Myrtacece or to the Hypericacece, The latter then may be defined, 

 as we shall see, as Myrtacece with a superior ovary, and the same, 

 consequently, may almost be said of the Clusiacece, which, as is 

 known, it is very difficult to separate absolutely from the Hyj^ericacece, 

 We therefore place the Myrtacece at nearly an equal distance from 

 the EhizojpJioracece, the Comhretacece, the Lythrariaceoe^ the Melasto- 

 macece, and the Hypericacece. 



UsES.^ — These are very numerous, the Myrtacece being generally 

 odorous plants, rich in stimulating, sometimes irritant essences, col- 

 lected in numerous punctiform reservoirs scattered throughout the 

 bark, the leaves and even certain parts of the flower and fruit. They 

 are moreover tonic and astringent from the tannic matter contained 

 in their bark, fruit, etc. Compared with this the wood is often inert 

 and without medicinal properties ; not that it is always inodorous. 

 That of the American Gustavia is reported to have a cadaverous 

 odour, and in Foetidia^ the smell is said to be intolerable. The 

 wood of Melaleuca of the Indian Archipelago is often very hard and 

 much employed in building. The first place is given to that of M, 

 Leucadendron^ and of M, Gajepnti^ In ]N'ew Caledonia, the former, 

 very abundant in fertile lands, furnishes the wood for all buildings 

 and for a certain number of domestic purposes. The Australian 

 Tristania^ chiefly T. neriifoUa,^ has also excellent wood. In the 

 island of Banca, that of T. obovata is employed for making char- 



^ Endl. Enchirid. 652. — Lindl. Veg. Kingd. ^ See p. 345, note 8. 



736 ; Fl. Med. 73.— Guib. Drog. Simpl. ed. 6, ^ Probably formed of one and the same poly- 



iii. 268.— EosENTH. Syn. PI. Biaphor. 919, 1131. morphous species (see p. 346, note 1). 



2 Especially in F. mauritiana Commers. — » E. Bk. Ait. Ilort. Kew. ed. 2, iv. 417. — 



Lamk.. Diet. ii. 457 ; III. t. 419.— DC. Prodr. Benth. Fl. Austral, iii. 262.— T. saiicifolia A. 



iii» 295 {Bois puant). This wood, according to Cunn. Bot. Beg. sub n. 1839. — Melaleuca nerii- 



report, has, besides, ail the economic qualities folia Sims, Bot. Mag. t. 1058.— Jf. saiicifolia 



of Walnut. Andr. Bot. Eepos. t. 485. 



22—2 



