258 L. MYRTACE^E. PUNICA. 



ORDER XLIX. CALYCANTHACE.E. CALYCANTHS. 



Shrubs with square stems exhibiting 4 axes of growth surrounding the central one. 



Lvs. opposite, entire, simple, without stipules. Fls. solitary, axillary. 



Col. <, Sepals numerous, colored, in several rows, confounded with the petals, all united below into a 



Cor. fleshy tube or cup. 



Sta. 00, inserted into the fleshy rim of the calyx ; inner row sterile. 



Ova. indefinite, inserted on the disk which lines the calyx tube. 



Fr. Achenia hard, enclosed in the calyx tube as in genus Rosa. 



The order consists of but 2 genera, Calycanthus, American, and Chimonanthus of Japan. The species 

 are 6. The flowers are highly aromatic, and the same quality resides in the bark. 



CALYCANTHUS. 



Gr. KaXv|, calyx, ai/Sos, a flower; from the character. 



Lobes of the calyx imbricated in many rows, lanceolate, somewhat 

 coriaceous and fleshy, colored ; stamens unequal, about 12 outer ones 

 fertile ; anthers extrorse. The bark and leaves exhale the odor of cam- 

 phor. Fls. of a lurid purple. 



C. FLORIDUS. Carolina Allspice. Sweet-scented Shrub. 

 Lvs. oval, mostly acute or acuminate, tomentose beneath ; branches spread- 

 ing ; flowers nearly sessile. Fertile soils along streams, Va. and all the S. 

 States. Not uncommon in gardens farther north. The species of Willdenow 

 and Elliot are all referred to this of Linnaeus, by Torrey and Gray, as follows : 



/?. (C. laevigatus Willd.} Lvs. oblong or ovate-lanceolate, acuminate or 

 gradually acute, glabrous ; branches erect, f 



y. (C. glaucus Willd.} Lvs. oblong or ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, glaucous 

 and glabrous beneath ; branches spreading, f 



S. (C. inodorus. Ell.) Lvs. lanceolate, scabrous and shining above, smooth 

 below ; branches spreading. 



ORDER L. MYRTACEJE. MYRTLEBLOOMS. 



Trees and shrubs, without stipules. 



Lvs. opposite entire, punctate, usually with a vein running close to the margin. 



Cal. adherent below to the compound ovary, the limb 4 5-cleft, valvate. 



Cor. Petals as many as the segments of the calyx. 



Sta. indefinite. AntJiers introrse. Style and stigma simple. 



Fr. with many seeds. 



A fine order, of 45 genera and 1300 species, native of warm or torrid countries, especially of S. America 

 and the E. Indies. 



Properties. A fragrant or pungent volatile oil, residing chiefly in the pellucid dotting of the leaves per- 

 vades the order. The Caryophylfus aromaticus, native of Arabia, a tree about 20 feet in height, yields the 

 clove (clou Fr. a nail) which is the dried Jlmoer. Cajeput oil is distilled from the leaves of the Melaleu- 

 ca Cajeputi, native of the E. Indies. A kind of gum kino is obtained from Eucalyptus resinifera, also a 

 native of India. The root of the Pomegranate yields an extract which is an excellent vermifuge. All the 

 genera are exotic with us. Many of them are highly ornamental in culture. 



Genera. 



Fruits 3-ce lied. Leaves evergreen, with a marginal vein. Myrtus. 1 



Fruit many-celled. Leaves deciduous, without the marginal vein Punica. 2 



1. MYRTUS. Tourn. 



Gr. //VjOov, perfume. 



Calyx 5-cleft ; petals 5 ; berry 2 3-celled : radicle and cotyle- 

 dons distinct. Shrubs with evergreen leaves. 



M. COMMUNIS. Common Myrtle. Lvs. oblong-ovate, with a marginal vein ; 

 fls. solitary; invoL 2-leaved. This popular shrub is a native of S. Europe. In 

 our climate it is reared only in houses and conservatories. Among the ancients 

 it was a great favorite for its elegance of form, and its fragrant, evergreen 

 leaves. It was sacred to Venus. The brows of bloodless victors were adorned 

 with myrtle wreaths, and at Athens it was an emblem of civic avthority. 

 Leaves about 1' by '. Flowers white. Jl. Aug.f 



2. PUNICA. 



Lat. Punica, Carthagenian, or, of Carthage, where it first grew. 



Calyx 5-cleft ; petals 5 ; berry many-celled, many-seeded ; seeds 

 baccate ; placenta parietal. Deciduous trees and shrubs. 



