MYTirACKTE. 



133 



2- or more- celled, 1- to niuny-seeded. Small trees and shrubs ; seldom 

 herbs. No. of genera, 70. 



MYRTUS, I'ourn. (Myrtle.) Calyx 4-6-parted, tube attached to 

 the ovary. Tetals 4-G, inserted together with the many stamens in 

 the throat of the calyx ; sometimes absent. Filaments long, free, or 

 combined in groups. Anthers opening lengthwise, dehiscence in- 

 wards. Style solitary; seeds attached to a central column. 



1. M. communis, L. (I'ommon Myrtle.) Stem 6 to 8 feet high, branched. 

 Leaves opposite, with puuetured spots, ovate, lanceolate, variable in breadth, 



Myrtus communis (Common Myrtle). 



evergreen. Flowers axillary, solitary, white. Fruit a berry. 2-.'3-ceI]ed. 

 Evergreen shrub. 



Varieties. — There are many species, and of the conuuuuis tliere are 5 varie- 

 ties known to the Horists. 



Var. Romana, broad-leaved. Leaves leathery. 



Var. Tarentina. Leaves like those of the box. 



Var. Boeotica. Leaves like those of the t)range. 



Var. Belgica. Broad-leaved, Dutch. 



Var. mucronata. Leaves like those of the rosemary. 



There are other varieties of this species, bnt these .5 are the most 

 important. 



Geof/raph 1/ . — The geographical home of the myrtle is tropical and sub- 

 tropical, but it grows well in regions of liglit frost, gradually beconn'ng ac- 

 climated. By some it is sup])osed to be native in southeastern Italy, and it 

 is growing now in all tlie countries around the Mediterraiu'an sea. 



Etymoloijfi. — Mip-tus, the Latin name, is tlirougli the Greek nvpros. a 

 myrtle-tree, derived from the Greek fivpov, perfume, due to the pleasant odor 

 discharged from the bruised leaves. Cummunis is the Latin for common, or 



