N, 0. MYRTACE.E. 551 



N. 0. MYRTACE.E. 



500. Myrtus communis, Linn, h. f.b.i., ii. 462. 



Vern. :— Vilayati mehndi, murad (H.); Sutr-sowa, fruit t 

 hab-ul-as (Arab.) 



Habitat : — Cultivated in India. This is the common myrtle, 

 extensively grown in India. The leaves are extensively used 

 by the European Jews in their religious ceremonials and by 

 the Natives of India of all kinds for medicinal purposes. It 

 extends from the south of Europe, especially the Mediterranean 

 region, as far as Afghanistan and Baluchistan. In Bombay, 

 it is a small shrubby plant, grown in gardens in pots and tubs. 



The leaves are fragrant, opposite, sometimes ternate, 

 ovate, smooth, of a beautiful green colour, glandular and 

 persistent, with short petioles. Flowers axillary, 5-petulous, 

 white, succeeded by a purple berry the size of a pea. (P. 333, 

 The Bengal Dispensary, 0. Shaughnessy 1841, Calcutta.) 



Uses :— In Upper India, the leaves are considered useful in 

 cerebral affections, especially epilepsy, also in dyspepsia, and 

 diseases of the stomach and liver. A decoction is employed 

 as a mouth-wash in cases of apthse. The fruit is carminative, 

 and is given in diarrhoea, dysentery, haemorrhage, internal 

 ulceration and rheumatism. The seeds, ground and mixed 

 with antimony, are used to color the eye-lids (Watt). 



" The essential oil of the leaves has been esteemed in France 

 as a disinfectant and useful antiseptic, also used in the Paris 

 hospitals, in certain affections of the respiratory organs and the 

 bladder, and recommended as a local application in rheumatic 

 affections" (Pharm. Journ., March 30, 1889 : p. 782;. 



501 . Melaleuca leucadendron, Linn, hpbi 

 ii. 465, Roxb. 591. 



Vern. r-K%3puti (H.) ; Cajuputte, ilachie (B.; ; Kayakuti 



(Bomb.); Cajuputa (Mar.) ; Kijapute, kayapute (Tarn. J 

 Habitat:— Cultivated in India. 



