MYRTACE^. 345 



car'pa and amara, of southern Brazil and La Plata, having aromatic - 

 bitter properties ; M. depaupey-ata, a Brazilian species, the bark of 

 which is used in the treatment of flux ; M. Pimenta, oblongata, and 

 pimentoides, of the Antilles, substitutes for Pimenta acris and 

 officinalis ; Gampomanesia cyanea, aurea, aprica, obversa, and 

 numerous other species,^ which, in South America, are used for pre- 

 paring stimulant, digestive, astringent, anticatarrhal, and other 

 infusions ; G. triflora^'^ in Para, often prescribed in the treatment 

 of head affections, etc. etc. 



Several xerocarpous Myrtacese have also medicinal properties, and 

 nearly all are aromatic. Leptospermum is rich in odorous essence. 

 One species, L. fiavescens^ (fig. 290-293), on that account and for 

 its uses in Australia, has received the name of L, TheaJ^ In New 

 Zealand, from L, scoparium,^ Cook, in his celebrated voyage, pre- 

 pared a theiform infusion for his crew, which preserved them from 

 scurvy. Bmchea frutescenSj^ a native of south-eastern Asia, has 

 numerous uses. Its branches and leaves placed upon clothes preserve 

 them from the attacks of insects ; it is also reputed a diuretic and 

 abortive. Melaleuca is also very odorous ; the oldest known is M. 

 minor, '^ the principal of those which, in Java and the Moluccas, pro- 

 duce the oil of Cajeput. The latter is an essence, generally green, 

 with a somewhat agreeable and very penetrating odour and acrid 

 taste, employed from time immemorial, in Chinese India, internally 

 and externally, for pains, rheumatism, nervous affections, malignant 

 fevers, and cholera ; it is an energetic stimulant, and also, it is said, 

 a powerful analgesic. Numerous species sometimes distinguished 

 from M, Leucadendron,^ sometimes united with it as forms or varieties, 



* See RosENTH. op. cit. 937. — Rosenth. op. cit, 920 {Cajuputi, Caju-Iulce 



^ Britoa triflora Berg. — Rosenth. op. cit. 937 Rumph. Herb. Amboin. ii. 74, t. 17, fig. 1 ; — 



{Ibobivaba). Ballong of the natives). Probably a variety of 



^ Sm. Trans. Linn. Soc. iii. 262. — Benth. Fl. the following species. 

 Austral, iii. 104. — L. polygalifolium Salisb. ^ Ij. Mantiss.K^b. — Lamk. ///. t. 641, fig. 4. — 



Frodr. 350. DC. Frodr. n. 1.— Hayne, Arzn. Geu: 10, t. 9.— 



< W. Spec. ii. 949. Mer. et Del. Bict. MU. Med. iv. 283.--Lindl. 



5 FoRST. Ge7i. 36.— Hook. f. Man. N,-Zeal. Fl. Med. 73 ; Veg. Kingd. 737.— Endl. Etichirid. 

 FL 69. — L. sqnarrosum G^rtn. 654.— Guib. Brog. Simpl. ed. 6, iii. 278, fig. 644. 



6 L. Spec. 514.— b. It. 251, t. 1.— Sm. loc. — F. Muell. Fragm. iv. 55.— Benth. Fl. Atis- 

 c?Y. iii.260. — DC. Prorfr. iii.229, n. 1. — Rosenth. tral. in. 142.— Hanb. et Flueck. Pharmacogr, 

 op. cit. 923. — B. chinensis G.ertn. Fruct. i. 157, 247. — M. salignaBh. Mus. Lugd.-Bat. i. 66. — 

 t. 31. Myrtus Leucadendron L. fil, Suppl. 342. — M. 



7 Smith, Rees Cyc p. v. 23, n. 2. — DC. Frodr. saligna Gmel. —Metrosideros albida Sieb. — M. 

 iii.212j n. 2.— Berg et Schm. Larst. Off. G w. coriacea ^vvl^^q.— Arbor alba Rumph. 



t. iii. c. — M. CaJuputi'RosB. Cat. Sort. Calc. 59. 



