MYRTACEM. 339 



i adefinite number of stamens. Ordinarily, the Myrtaceœ 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 

 Melrosideros of the section Xanthostemon. 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 Myrtaceœ or to the Hypericaceœ. The latter then may be defined, 

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

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

 known, it is very difficult to separate absolutely from the Hyjyericaceœ. 

 We therefore place the Myrtaceœ at nearly an equal distance from 

 the RhizophoracecB x the Combretacece, the Lythrariaceœ, the Melasto- 

 maceœ, and the TLyperieaceœ. 



Uses. 1 — These are very numerous, the Myrtaceœ being generally 

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

 lected in numerous punctiforin 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 Fœtidia* 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 3 and of M. CajeputL* In New Caledonia, the former, 

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

 and for a certain number of domestic purposes. The Australian 

 Tridania, chiefly T. neriifolia, 5 has also excellent wood. In the 

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



1 Exdl. Enchirid. 652. — Ldjdl. Yeg. Kiiigd. 3 See p. 345, note 8. 



736 ; Fl. Med. 73. — Guib. Drag. Simpl. ed. 6, 4 Probably formed of one and the same poly- 



iii. 268. — Rosenth. Sgn. PI. Biaphor. 919, 1131. morphouB species (see p. 346, note 1). 



2 Especially in F. mcmritiana Commers. — 5 R. Be. Ait. Sort. Kew. ed. 2, iv. 417. — 

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

 iii. 295 (Buis piimtt). This wood, according to Cunn. But. Peg. sub n. 1839. — Melaleuca nerii- 

 report, has, besides, all the economic qualities folia Sims, Bot. Mag. t. 1058. — M. salicifolia 

 of Walnut. Andr. Bot. Bepos. t. 485. 



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