646 
LT. MYRTACE.E. 
[Rhodomyrtus. 
Leaves opposite, penniveined or triplinerved. Peduncles axillary, bearing 1 or 3 
or rarely a raceme or cyme of 5 or more flowers, pink or white. Bracts small, or 
when the peduncles are several-flowered the lowest sometimes leaf-like. 
Bracteoles small and deciduous. 
Besides the Australian species, there is one which is widely distributed over the Indian 
Archipelago, extending to S. China, but which has not yet been detected in Australia. The 
genus is nearly allied to Myrtus, and still nearer to some Psidium, but appears to be sufficiently 
characterised by the ovary and fruit to be distinguished from both. — Benth . 
Leaves penniveined. Flowers rather large (3, 5, or 7). Ovules and seeds in 
6 rows 1. R. psidioides. 
Leaves prominently triplinerved. Flowers small (usually 3). Ovules and 
seeds in 4 rows 2. R. trineura. 
Leaves penniveined, but with an intramarginal vein often prominent, so as 
to be almost triplinerved. . 
Flowers small in a loose dichotomous cyme. Ovules and seeds in 4 or G 
rows 3. R. cymiflora. 
Flowers rather large (1, 3, or 5). Ovules in 2 rows. Fruit long, cylin- 
drical, with the seeds in 1 or 2 rows 4. R. macrocarpa. 
1. XL. psidioides (Guava-like), Benth. FI. Austr. iii. 272. A tree attaining 
sometimes a great size, the young shoots more or less hoary-pubescent ; the older 
foliage glabrous. Leaves petiolate, from oval-elliptical to ovate-lanceolate or 
oblong, shortly and obtusely acuminate, mostly 3 to 4in. long, shining above, 
penniveined and prominently reticulate on both sides, the margins usually 
recurved. Peduncles axillary, rarely 1-flowered, mostly with 1, 2, or 3 pairs of 
pedicels besides the terminal one, the lowest often again 3-flowered, the pedicels 
all articulate below the calyx. Calyx-tube hoary-tomentose, thick, fully 2 lines 
long ; lobes 5 or rarely 4, shorter than the tube, ovate, the inner ones rather 
larger and thinner than the outer. Petals about 3 lines long. Stigma broadly 
peltate. Berry ovoid-globular, yellow, soft-juicy, size of a pigeon’s egg. Ovules 
and seeds superposed in 6 rows. — Nelitris psidioides, G. Don, Gen. Syst. ii. 829 ; 
Myrtus Tozerii, F. v. M. Fragm. ii. 86 t. 13. 
Hab.: Brisbane River and other southern scrubs. 
Wood light-coloured, close-grained, and tough. — Bailey’s Cat. Ql. Woods No. 214. 
2. R. trineura (leaves three-nerved), F. v. M.; Benth. FI. Austr. iii. 272. 
A small tree, the young shoots more or less velvety-tomentose. Leaves petiolate, 
ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, li to 2-J-in. long, triplinerved, much reticulate, 
glabrous above, loosely pubescent or tomentose underneath. Flowers usually 3 
together, sessile in the axils, or borne on a short common peduncle. Calyx-tube 
tomentose-villous, above 1 line long ; lobes 5, as long as the tube. Petals twice 
as long as the calyx-lobes, minutely pubescent or glabrous. Berry globular, 
villous, about 3 lines diameter. Ovules and seeds superposed in 4 (or some- 
times 6?) rows. — Myrtus trineura, F. v. M. Fragm. iv. 117. 
Hab.: Gould Island ; wooded shores of Rockingham Bay, W. Hill, Dallachy ; Bellenden Ker 
Ranges. 
3. It. cymiflora (flowers in cymes), F. v. M.; Benth. FI. Austr. iii. 273. A 
tall shrub or small tree, glabrous. Leaves. ovate-elliptical, shortly and obtusely 
acuminate, narrowed into a short petiole, finely and rather distantly penniveined, 
the veins united in a nerve much within the margin, and more prominent towards 
the base of the leaf, which thus appears almost triplinerved. Flowers several but 
not numerous, in loose dichotomous cymes, axillary, pedunculate, and sometimes 
exceeding the leaves. Calyx-tube turbinate or almost globular, above 1 line 
diameter; lobes 5, broad, shorter than the tube. Petals fully 2 lines diameter. 
Ovules superposed in 6 or rarely 4 rows. Fruit only seen young. — Myrtus cymi- 
flora, F. v. M. Fragm. v. 12. 
Hab.: Seaview Range, Rockingham Bay, and Mount Graham. J. Dallachy. 
