CVIII. MYBISTIOEiB. 
1287 
1. MYRISTICA, Linn. 
Characters those of the Order. 
The genus is entirely tropical, most abundant in the Eastern Archipelago, with a few species 
from Continental India or from the Mascarene and South Pacific Islands, and several from 
tropical America. The only Australian species may be endemic, but is closely allied to an 
Indian one. — Bentli. 
1. 1YE. insipida (insipid), U. Br. Prod. 400; Benth. FI. Austr. v. 281. 
Native Nutmeg. “ Ivurroonbah,” Barron River, J. F. Bailey, “ Gooroombah,” 
Tully River, J. F. Bailey. A fine tree of 60 to 70ft. or more 
glabrous, but the young branches and petioles often ferruginous. Leaves oval- 
elliptical or oblong, shortly acuminate, rounded or cuneate at the base, all under 
4in. long in some specimens, all above Gin. in others, and often very variable in 
size and breadth on the same specimens, pale and shining above with the veins 
impressed, more or less glaucous underneath, with from 7 to 20 prominent 
primary veins on each side of the midrib. Male flowers few or rather numerous, 
in sessile axillary clusters. Pedicels shorter than the perianth, with a small 
broad ciliolate bract close under the flowers. Perianth cylindrical, 2 to 24 lines 
long, with 3 lobes scarcely above 4 line long. Staminal column included, not 
dilated at the top ; anthers 6, linear, adnate in a ring below the top of the 
column and occupying two-thirds of its length. Female flowers not seen. Fruits 
solitary or 2 together on very short thick axillary pedicels, ovoid or ovoid-oblong, 
about lin. long, rusty-tomentose or nearly glabrous. Seeds normal ; embryo 
with very small thick divaricate cotyledons quite entire. — A. DC. Prod. xiv. 206; 
cirnicifera, R. Br. Prod. 400 ; A. DC. l.c. 191. 
Hab.: Islands of the Gulf of Carpentaria, R. Brown; Endeavour River, Banks and Solander; 
Albany Island, IF. Hill : Rockingham Bay, Dallacliy ; near Rockhampton, Thozet. 
Wood of a pinkish-grey colour, tough and easily worked. — Bailey's Cat. Ql. Hoods, No. 30G. 
Order CIX. MONIMIACEjE. 
Perianth regular, usually at first globular or nearly so or more and less adnate 
to or continuous with the expanded receptacle or staminal disk, the limb of 4 or 
more connivent lobes or segments in 2 or rarely more rows but all of similar 
texture, calycine or scarcely petaloid, deciduous or persistent. Stamens either 
definite and opposite the perianth-segments or more frequently indefinite and 
irregularly arranged in several rows ; filaments very short ; anthers adnate, 
usually extrorse, the cells opening in separate valves or in longitudinal slits, either 
distinct or confluent at the axpex. Gynoecium of several carpels, free and dis- 
tinct, rarely reduced to a single one, each with a single ascending or pendulous 
anatropous ovule. Style terminal, usually oblique excentrical or almost lateral, 
filiform or very short or almost none, with a small or pulvinate terminal stigma. 
Fruit of several (or rarely only one) 1 -seeded drupes or nuts, resting on the 
expanded receptacle or persistent portion of the perianth tube or enclosed in the 
enlarged perianth. Seed with a membranous testa and fleshy albumen. Embryo 
usually very small, with divaricate or appressed cotyledons and a short or long 
radicle next the hilum.— Trees shrubs or woody climbers, usually glandular- 
dotted and aromatic. Leaves opposite entire or toothed, without stipules. 
Flowers solitary or in trichotomous cymes of definite raceme-like or thyrsoid 
panicles, axillary or rarely terminal. Bracts usually very small. 
The Order is chiefly South American, tropical with a few extratropical species, and is also 
represented in the Mascarene Islands and more sparingly in tropical Asia, New Zealand, and the 
islands of the South Pacific. 
Tribe I. PXonimieae. — Anther-cells opening longitudinally, with 2 distinct cells or the cells 
confluent at the apex. Omiles pendulous. Perianth 4-lobed. Flowers unisexual or polygamous. 
Carpels numerous. Fruiting perianth enlarged, irregularly globose com- 
pletely enclosing the carpels. Stems climbing 1. Palmeria, 
Part IV. S 
