346 Oedbr 49.— KYRTACEjE. 



in many rows, lanceolate, somewhat coriaceous and fleshy, colored; 

 stamens unequal, about 12, outer ones fertile; anthers extrorse ; pistils 

 few or many, inclosed in the calyx tube, fruit many times larger than 

 that of the rose, loosely enclosing the large achenia. — The bark and 

 'Ivs. exhale the odor of camphor. Fls. of a lurid purple. 



C. floridus L. Lvs. oval, mostly aeuto or acuminate, tomentoua beneath; 

 branches spreading ; fls. nearly sessile. — Fertile soils, along streams, Va. and all 

 the S. States. Not uncommon in gardens farther north, and valued for its ex- 

 quisite, strawberry -like fragrance. Shrub 3 to If high. Lvs. 3 to 5 to 7' long. 

 Fls. on short branches. Pr. rare, of the size and form of a fig, acute at base, 

 truncate and involute at top, longitudinally veined. (Sent by Prof Pond.) 

 /3. l^vis.Vtus T. & G. Lvs. oblong or ovate-lanceolate, acuminate or gradually 

 acute, glabrous or somewhat scabrous abovo ; branches erect, f (C. laeviga- 

 tus Willd.) 

 y. OLADOUS T. & G. Lvs. oblong or ovate-lanceolate, much acuminate, large, 

 glaucous and glabrous or minutely downy beneath; branches spreading, f 

 (C. glaucus WiUd.) 

 <5. inod6bds T. & G. Lvs. lanceolate, scabrous and shining abovej smooth be- 

 low ; branches spreading ; fls. inodorous. (C. inodorus Ell.) 



Oedee XLIX. MYRTACE^. Myrtieblooms. 



Trees and shrubs, without stipules. Lvs. opposite, entire, punctate, usually with a 

 vein running close to the margin. Cat adherent below to the compound ovary, 

 the limb 4 or 5-cleft, valvate. Petals as many as the segments of the calyx. 

 Stamens indefinite. Anthers introrse. Style and stigma simple. Pruit with many 

 seeds. Albumen none. 



A flDe order of 45 genera and 1300 species, nativo of warm and torrid countries, especially of 

 B. America, and the E. Indies. 



Properties. — A fragrant or pungent volatile oil, residing chiefly in the pellucid dotting of the 

 leaves, pervades the odor. The Caryophyllus aromaticus, native of Arabia, a tree about 20f in 

 height, yields the clove {clou, Fr. a nail), which is the dried flower. Gajeput oil is distilled from 

 the leaves of the Malaleuca Cojeputi, native of the E. Indies. A kind of gum kin.o is obtained 

 from Eucalyptus resinifera, also a native of India. The root of the Pomegranate yields au ex- 

 tract which is an excellent vermifuge. All the genera are exotic with us. Many of them ar« 

 highly ornamental in culture. 



1. MYR'TUS, Tourn. Myrtle. (Gr. fivpov, perfume.) Calyx 6- 

 cleft ; petals 5 ; berry 2 or 3-celled ; radicle and cotyledons distinct. — 

 Slirubs with evergreen lvs. marked hj a marginal vein. 



M. commiinis L. Lvs. oblong-ovate; fla. solitary; Involucre 2 -leaved. — 

 This popular shrub is a native of S. Europe. In this country it is reared only in 

 houses and conservatories. Leaves about 1 by 6'. Flowers white. Among the 

 ancients it was a great favorite for its elegance of form, and its fragrant, ever- 

 green leaves. It was sacred to Venus. The brows of bloodless victors were 

 adorned with myrtle wreaths, and at Athens it was an emblem of civic an- 

 thority. 



2. PU^NICA, L. Pomegranate. (Lat. punica ; Carthaginian or 

 of Carthage, where it first grew.) Calyx 5-cleft ; petals 6 ; berry 

 many-celled, many-seeded, seeds baccate ; placenta parietal. — Deci- 

 duous trees and shrubs. 



1 P. Granatum L. Arborescent; lvs. lanceolate, with no marginal vein. 

 — A thorny bush when wild, fi-om S. Europe, where it is sometimes used for 

 hedges like the hawthorn. In Fla., &e., it is a tree 15 to 20f high. Lvs. entire, 

 smooth, 2 to 3' by 1 to 10", obtuse. The fls. are scarlet, large, and make a fine 

 appearance. The ft. is large, highly ornamental, and of a fine flavor. Much 

 care is requisite for its cultivation. It requires a rich loam, a sunny aitua- 



