652 
LI. MYRTACEiE. 
[Rhodamnia. 
style filiform ; stigma usually peltate. Berry globular, usually crowned by the 
calyx-limb. Seeds usually few, reniform-globular or variously compressed ; 
testa hard; embryo horseshoe-shaped, with a long radicle and very small 
cotyledons. — Shrubs or small trees. Leaves opposite, 3-nerved or triplinerved. 
Flowers usually small, the pedicels clustered in the axils or forming very short 
racemes. Bracteoles small, deciduous. 
The genus is spread over tropical Asia, and comprises about a dozen published species, some 
of which, however, will probably be reduced on a careful scrutiny. The 4 Australian ones 
appear to be endemic, although it is possible, when better known, that 2 of them may prove to 
be extreme forms of the most widely spread among the Asiatic ones. The 1-celled ovary, with 
parietal placenta, readily distinguishes the genus from all other Myrtea, and the 3-nerved leaves 
are only in this genus and in Rhodomyrtus. — Benth. 
Flowers sessile in the axils. Leaves acuminate, mostly above 3in. long . . 1. if. sessiliflora. 
Flowers in pedunculate cymes. Leaves mostly under 3in. long. 
Leaves acuminate, 3-nerved, pubescent underneath, but not white. Calyx 
glabrous or pubescent 2. if. trinervia. 
Leaves obtuse, triplinerved, shining above, white underneath. Calyx 
very tomentose 3. if. argentea. 
Leaves on somewhat long petioles, the under side at first densely ferruginous- 
tomentose. Calyx-lobes reflexed on the fruit 4. if. Blairiana. 
1. It. sessiliflora (flowers stalkless), Benth. FI. Austr. iii. 277. “ Koorka- 
bidgan,” Barron River, J. F. Bailey. Medium-sized tree ; branches tomentose- 
pubescent. Leaves ovate, acuminate, mostly 3 to7in. long, 3^in. broad, glabrous 
above, more or less tomentose-pubescent underneath, especially on the nerves, 
triplinerved and reticulate. Flowers small, usually 8 together, sessile in the 
axils. Bracteoles small, linear, deciduous. Calyx densely tomentose-pubescent, 
about 1 line long ; lobes orbicular or ovate, obtuse, unequal, the largest about 
1 line diameter. Petals line diameter. Stamens rather longer. Ovules 
numerous, in 3 or 4 irregular rows on each placenta. Berry small, globular, 
pubescent, with 1 to 4 or from that to 16 seeds, almost 1£ line long, the calyx- 
lobes deciduous. 
Hab.: Rockingham Bay, Dallachy. 
Evidently nearly allied to the common R. spectabilis, Blume, but at once distinguished by the 
sessile flowers and fruits. — Benth. 
Wood of a dark colour, close-grained, and tough. — Bailey's Cat. Ql. Woods No. 218a. 
2. R. trinervia (3-nerved leaves), Blume Mus. Bot. i. 79 ; Benth. FI. Austr. 
iii. 278. A tree of medium size, with a lamellar reddish bark, the young shoots, 
under side of the leaves, and inflorescence more or less velvety-pubescent, but 
not white. Leaves ovate-oblong or ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous and 
much reticulate above, prominently 3-nerved from the base. Peduncles slender, 
axillary, 3 together in a cluster or on a short common peduncle, each with 1 or 
rarely 3 flowers, with minute bracteoles under the calyx. Calyx pubescent or 
nearly glabrous ; tube about 1 line long ; lobes nearly as long. Petals twice as 
long as the calyx-lobes. Stamens shorter than the petals. Stigma small. Berry 
globular, about 3 lines diameter or rather more, with few or with rather numerous 
seeds. — Myrtus trinervia, Sm. in Trans. Linn. Soc. iii. 280; Euyenia (!) trinervia, 
DC. Prod. iii. 279 ; Bot. Mag. t. 3223 ; Monoxora rubescens, Benth. in Hook. , 
Lond. Journ. ii. 219 ; Myrtus melastomoides, F. v. M. Fragm. i. 76. 
Hab.: Damp woods, Moreton Bay, and in the interior, A. Cunningham, Fraser, W. Hill. 
Wood brown, close-grained, tou^h, strong and durable ; useful for house-building and many 
other purposes. — Bailey's Cat. Ql. Woods No. 219. 
Var. spongiosa. This northern tree differs from the ordinary forms met with in being glabrous 
except the inflorescence, and in the smaller branches bearing a more or less thick, white, spongy 
clothing. In an early stage of growth this is covered by a reddish brittle bark, which cracks 
off early, exposing the spongy matter. Hab.: Tringilburra Creek, Bellenden Ker Expedition ; 
Barron River, E. Cowley. 
