MYRTACE^. 



313 



inflorescence and the form of the receptacle. The former is a 

 simple or compound cluster, reduced even to one flower, or it is in 

 cymes, as in Jambosa and 8yzygium. This latter name is derived 

 from the fact that the petals may be united in a single piece and 

 detached by the base as a hood ; but this character is far from being 



Bugenia Jamhoa, 



Fig. 286. Long. sect, of flower. 



Fig. 287. Long. sect, of fruit. 



constant. The floral receptacle may be more or less globular or 

 turbinate and prolonged above the inferior ovary as in Jamhosa^ or 

 lengthened to a tube, as in Eugenia (Garyophyllus) aromatica (fig. 

 288, 289), or to an obconical horn, as in Glavimyrtus, and this horn 

 may even be very long (CupJiceanthus), smooth without or covered 

 with thick vertical wings (Pteromyrtus), without the other essential 

 characters being modified. Hence a very large number of divisions 

 ia this' genus, which, comprising some five hundred species, very 

 abundant in America, but existing also in all the tropical regions of 

 the old world, is represented by trees and shrubs with leaves almost 

 always opposite, without stipules; sometimes however opposite or 

 verticilate by threes, analogous to those of the Myrtles.^ The 

 three genera Aulacocarpus, Galycorectes, and Schizocalyx, still 



' Here probatly ought to be placed two 

 Oceanic species which would he to -Eugenia 

 what Calyptranthes is to Myrtus, that is its 

 calyx is detached in one piece at its base like a 

 hood. One which has received the name of 



Acicalyptua, has been hitherto doubtfully 

 placed among the xerocarpous Myrtacese ; but 

 its flruit is unknown, and it is apparently very 

 near the other genus Filiocaiyx, which has a 

 fruit and seed of Eugenia. As to the flower 



