ANGIOSPERM^, DICOTYLEDONES. 



783 



those of the Pomegranate have a fleshy coat, and those of Epilohium are furnished 

 with hairs. The Myrtales are distributed over all quarters of the globe. The 

 Chamselauceae and Leptospermacese are natives of Australia and the islands of 

 the Pacific Ocean. Several species of this family help to form Australian bush, 

 whilst others, especially species of the genus Eucalyptus, constitute entire forests 

 of great area. The Lecythidacese grow chiefly in South America. The Myrtacese 

 are most abundant in America, and occur also in Asia and Africa. Europe only 

 possesses one species, Myrtus communis, which belongs to the Mediterranean Flora. 

 The Fuchsias are indigenous to Central and South America. The Epilobiums and 



Fig, 440.— Melastomacese, 

 ilelastoma Malabathncum. (After BailloD.) 



Circseas live principally in the North Temperate Zone, and some species of the genus 

 Epilobium occur in the arctic regions and on mountain heights. Fossil remains of 

 Myrtacese and Granatacese have been found in the strata of the Tertiary Period. 

 The number of species ascertained to exist at the present day is about 2500. 



Alliance LIX. — Melastomales. 



Family: MelastoTnaceoE. 



Perennial herbs, shrubs, and trees, with opposite or whorled foliage-leaves. 

 Leaves entire, with 3-11 curved ribs connected by transverse anastomoses (see 

 fig. 440). Flowers hermaphrodite or pseudo-hermaphrodite; slightly zygomorphic. 

 Floral-leaves differentiated into calyx and corolla. The bowl-shaped or tubular 



