THE MYRTLE TRIBE. 53 



in the West Indies ; and, finally, the Pomegranate 

 is an example of another fruit-bearing kind, which 

 has migrated from Barbary into Europe. 



All these are trees with berries for their fruit ; and 

 they form the greatest part of the tribe. Others how- 

 ever there are which have dry fruits opening at the 

 top, and containing a great number of very minute 

 seeds ; these, the principal part of which are natives 

 of New Holland, have very often also alternate leaves. 

 It is therefore neither to the fruit nor to the position 

 of the leaves upon the stem, that you are to look for 

 the precise character of the JVIyrtle tribe. The infe- 

 rior ovary, the numerous stamens, the single style, and 

 the dotted leaves, are what you will know it by with 

 most certainty. 



To that division of the tribe in which the fruit is dry 

 and manv-seeded belon"' Melaleuca and Metrosideros, 

 with their long tassels of silken stamens, purple, or yel- 

 low, or crimson ; and so do the gigantic Gum Trees of 

 New Holland (Eucalyptus). These last are remarkable 

 for having no petals ; and for their calyx falling off like 

 a lid or extinouisher. I told vou, in mv first letter, 

 to observe what I said about the curious calyx of 

 Eschscholtzia, which was pushed off by the petals in 

 the form of a hutkin, in consequence of the sepals 

 not being capable of separating in the usual way. So 

 is it with the Eucalyptus ; its calyx has all its parts 

 soldered together, as it were, into a hard fleshy lid ; 

 when it is time for the stamens to unfold, they push 

 the calyx so forcibly, that it breaks away by its base 

 and drops off, leaving the stamens at liberty to ex- 

 pand as fully as may be necessary. 



