Eucalyptus.] XXIX. MYETACEAE. 159 



horizontal ; in the mature state usually alternate, pendulous and rigid. Flowers 

 pedunculate or sessile, solitary or umbellate or racemose. 



*E. Globulus, Labill, Voy. i. 153, t. 13. A lofty tree. Stem and branches 

 of the young tree 4-angkd, with opposite, sessile, ovate-truncate or cordate glaucous 

 leaves. Leaves of the mature state pendulous, alternate, coriaceous, ovate-lanceo- 

 late, acuminate, falcate. Flowers very large, solitary or geminate, sessile or very 

 shortly peduncled. Calyx-tube broadly turbinate, thick, rugose or warted, 4-toothed. 

 Operculum rugose, thick, shorter than the tube. Stamens all perfect. Ovary 

 equalling the calyx, convex. Fruit fin.-lin. in diameter, 5-celled, the margin rising 

 above the calyx ; valves not protruding. 



NORTH Island : naturalised on the Te Karaka Plats and in other localities. Blue-gum. 

 Australia. 



2. METROSIDEROS, Banks. 

 Calyx-tube adnata with the base of the ovary^ globose, campanulate or 

 turbinate, sometimes forming a tubular limb ; lobes 5, imbricate. Petals 5, 

 spreading. Stamens very numerous, exceeding the petals ; filaments filiform, 

 often unequal. Ovary included in the calyx-tube or half extruded, 3-celied ; 

 style slender ; ovules numerous iu each cell, radiating outwards from axile 

 placentas. Capsule coriaceous, closely invested by the calyx-tube, inferior or 

 half-superior, 3-celled. Seeds very numerous, linear, rarely flat ; testa mem- 

 branous. Embryo straight. Trees or shrubs, often scandent or trailing. 

 Leaves opposite, sometimes distichous, coriaceous. Flowers in terminal ra- 

 cemes, cymes, or umbels, white, red, or crimson, rarely yellow. 



Species, about 30, of which 11 are found in New Zealand, all except one being endemic ; the 

 others are distributed through the Indian Archipelago, Oceania, South Africa, Chili, New Caledonia, 

 and Australia. The scandent species are restricted to New Zealand, and, on the fall of the sup- 

 porting tree, usually form large erect bushes, all trace of the climbing habit being lost. 



Etym. Prom the Greek, in reference to the strength and durabilit}' of the timber. 



' Garpsule coriaceous or woody, wholly enclosed in the calyx-tube, dehiscing irrcgtUarly or by 3 apical 



valves. 



An erect bush or large climber. Calyx glabrous. Capsule woody .. .. 1. M. florida. 



A shrub or large tree, with acuminate leaves. Calyx silky . . . . . . 2. M. lucida. 



A shrub or small tree. Leaves elliptical, ovate, acute . . • • . . 3. M. Parkinsonii. 



** Capsule scarcely coriaceous, dehiscing to the base, wholly enclosed in the calyx-tube, which is. 



narrowed above. 

 Leaves decussate, acuminate. Flowers white, terminal . . . . . . i. M. albiflora. 



Leaves decussate, obtuse. Plowers scarlet . . . . . . . . 5. M. diffusa. 



Leaves distichous, subacute. Capsule glabrous . . . . . . ..&. M. hypericifolia. 



Leaves distichous, acuminate. Capsules terminal, pubescent . . . . 7. M. Colensoi. 



*** Capsule protruded beyond the calyx-tube, 3-valved. 

 u,. Trees, often of large dimensions. 

 Leaves decussate, glabrous, obtuse, lin.-ljin. long. Capsule glabrous .. 8. M. robusta. 



Leaves decussate, white beneath with appressed tomentum, 2in.-4in. long. 



Capsule tomentose . . . . . . . . . . ■ • .. 9. M. tomentosa. 



Leaves decussate, obovate, white with appressed tomentum beneath, |in.-ljin. 



long . . -. . • • . . . . . . . . . . 10. ilf. villosa. 



b. An erect bush or lofty climber. 

 Leaves Jin.-Jin. long. Plowers white . . . . . . . . . . 11. Jlf. scandens. 



