MYRTACEJL 125 



oblong, red, one-secdcd : seed oblong. 



The specific designation has been suggested by the re- 

 semblance to the leaves of the Star-apple, although 

 the beautiful rufous pubescence on the under surface is 

 wanting. 



21. Eugenia Pimenta. Pimento-berry. 



Peduncles axillary and terminal 3-chotomously 

 panicled, flowers in the bifurcation subsessile, the 

 others pedicelled, leaves oblong pellucido-punctu- 

 lated subopaque glabrous, branchlets compressed 

 or sub-3-gonal, when young puberulous. 



Myrtus arborea aromatica, Shane, II. 76. t. 191. f. 1. 

 — M. foliis oblongo-ovatis, Browne. 247 — Myrtus Pimenta, 

 Swartz, Obs. 202.— Sims. Bot. Mag. t. 1230.— Eugenia 

 Pimenta, DC. Prod. III. 285. 



HAB. Common, particularly in limestone districts. 



F L. March— May. 



A tree, 30-40 feet in height: stem straight, erect, with 

 a smooth ash-coloured bark : branches towards the end 

 compressed, subtetragonal, or sub-trigonal, and when 

 young minutely puberulous. Leaves opposite, rarely in 

 threes, 5 or more inches long, and lj broad, obtuse, dia- 

 gonally nerved : petiole short. Panicles shorter than the 

 leaves, many-flowered : peduncle compressed, minutely 

 puberulous: branches decussating, with the terminal sub- 

 division 3-flowered with the one at the bifurcation sessile, 

 and the lateral ones pedicelied. Bractere leaf-like, decid- 

 uous : bracteoles 2, very minute, persistent. Calycine 

 lobes subequal. Petals larger than the calyx, horizontally 

 spreading, concave, oleoso punctulated. Stamens nume- 

 rous. Style erect, puberulous : stigma obtuse. Berry 

 globular, size of a red currant, purple, juicy, one-seeded. 



There is a difference of opinion respecting the trees 

 which arc known as male. They are supposed by Pi- 

 mento-planters to be necessary to ensure a crop, and it 

 would be regarded as an act of insanity to cut them 

 down. This is one of many popular errors. The flowers 

 of the fruit bearing trees are always found to be hermaph- 

 rodite, with perfect stamens and pistil. There was a 

 solitary tree at the Bath Garden, many miles distant from 

 any other of its species ; and, notwithstanding this, it annu- 



