56 NATIVE FLOWERS OF VICTORIA. 
CHAPTER VII. 
The Myrtle Family. 
T here are no species of the true Myrtle growing 
naturally in Victoria, but there are many re- 
presentatives of the family, some of which have 
become of world-wide importance. This is especially 
the case with the Eucalyptus genus, which is placed 
naturally in the Myrtle family, or as it is botanicaUy 
known, Myrtaceae. 
To the Myrtle family belong plants of all magni- 
tudes, from small prostrate plants to large trees, 
which may be classed among the giants in the tree 
world. Plants belonging to this family may 
readily be recognised by the presence of semi-trans- 
parent dots in the foliage, which contain a fragrant 
and volatile oil, and by the usually numerous stamens. 
When the leaves of any members of the Myrtle 
family are crushed or bruised, they usually give out a 
fragrant odour, owing to the presence of the oil in 
the glands or dots. This odour must not be accepted 
as an infallible guide, for plants belonging to other 
divisions also emit a spicy odour, notably some of the 
mint bush plants which belong to the Labiateae, and 
also some of the Boronias which belong to the Ruta- 
ceae. 
The fruit of the various myrtaceous plants is more 
usually in the form of hard nut-like seeds or seed- 
pods, such as occur in the tea trees, or in the gum 
