304 
LVIII. MYKSINACEiE 
LVIII. MYRSINACE^ 
An Order inhabiting nearly all tropical and subtropical regions; 
largely represented throughout India, but having only two species 
in the Simla neighbourhood. 
MYRSINE. The Greek name of the Myrtle, Myrtus communis ; 
both genera have gland-dotted leaves. — Nearly all tropical 
regions, chiefly Asiatic. 
Shrubs or small trees. Leaves alternate, undivided, dotted 
with pellucid glands, usually toothed ; stipules none. Flowers 
glandular, very small, regular, polygamous, in axillary clusters, 
sometimes apparently crowded along the branches owing to the 
leaves having fallen off. Calyx free, persistent, 4- or 5-lobed, 
much shorter than the corolla. Corolla rotate, hypogynous, 4- or 
5-lobed. Stamens 4 or 5, inserted on the base of the corolla 
opposite its lobes, filaments very short, anthers 2-celled. Ovary 
superior, ovoid, 1-celled, narrowed upwards in a short style ; 
stigma large, terminal, capitate or 3-lobed ; ovules several, 
attached to a free central column. 
Fruit berry-like, indehiscent, glo- 
bose, hardly \ in. diam., smooth, 
red ; seed large, solitary. 
A shrub. Leaves 
|-1 in. Flowers 
nearly sessile . 1. M. africana. 
A small tree. Leaves 
3-5 in. Flowers 
stalked . . 2. M. semiserrata. 
1. Myrsine africana, Linn. ; FI. 
Br. Ind. iii. 511. A small, erect, 
pubescent shrub. Leaves nearly 
sessile, lanceolate, \-l in., sharply 
toothed. Flowers nearly sessile. 
Calyx and corolla 4-lobed. Sta- 
mens 4. Stigma capitate, covered 
with minute protuberances. Berry 
dotted with red glands. (Fig. 94.) 
Simla, the Glen ; March-May.— 
Temperate Himalaya, 2000-9000 ft. — 
S'. Africa. 
Fig. 94. Myrsine africana. 
2. Myrsine semiserrata, Wall . ; 
FI. Br. Ind. iii. 511. A small, glabrous tree. Leaves shortly 
stalked, lanceolate, 3-5 in., sharply toothed towards the tip, rarely 
entire, margins gland-dotted. Flowers stalked. Calyx and 
