Flora Medica

acrisMYRTACE^Eappearance of the rest of the ovules, and of the second cell ;so thatthe fruit which forms a rather large elliptical purple berry is only1-seeded: this is of the same shape as the berry; its integumentthin, and of a soft texture. Embryo likewise elliptical, large, greenish,fleshy, dotted. Cotyledons unequal, sinuose ; the larger onepartly enveloping the smaller, including the superior radicle. Sot.Mag. Stimulant and carminative, similar in effects to EugeniaPimenta. The cloves of the shops are the dried flower-buds. Oil ofcloves is a common remedy for toothach.EUGENIA.Calyx-tube nearly globose limb divided down to the :ovary into4 or rarely 5 segments. Petals 4 or rarely 5. Stamens numerous,distinct. Ovary 2-celled ;the cells often divided by thelarge placentae reaching almost to the sides, and there split into2 divaricating segments bearing the ovules : ovules several ineach cell. Berry nearly globose, crowned by the segments ofthe calyx, eventually 1 or rarely 2-celled. Seeds 1-2, large.Cotyledons very thick and fleshy, partially or completely combinedinto one mass with the radicle : radicle very short, scarcelydistinguishable. Trees or shrubs. Leaves opposite, quiteentire, pellucid-dotted. Peduncles axillary or terminal, solitary,or several together, simple and 1-flowered, or racemose-cymose,or panicled. W. and A.155. E. .W. and Arn. prodr.i. 331. Myrtus acrisSwartzfl. ind. occ. ii. 909. Myrcia acris DC. iii.prodr. 24-3.Bot. mag. t. 3153. West India Islands. (Wild Clove.)Arborescent, glabrous : young branches acutely 4-angled. Leaveselliptic-oval, obtuse, more or less convex, coriaceous, very glabrous,upper side reticulated with elevated veins, finely pellucid-dotted. Pedunclescompressed, axillary and terminal, trichotomous, corymbose,rather longer than the leaves. Calyx-limb 5-partite ;segments roundish.Style filiform, acute. Berry globose, 1^1-seeded. W. and A.Supposed to have been confounded with E. Pimenta, in whose aromaticqualities it altogether participates.156. E. Pimenta DC. prodr.iii. 285. Myrtus Pimenta Linn.sp.pl. 676. Swartz obs. 202. Bot. t.Mag. 1236. Woodv.t. 26. S. and C. ii. t. 124. West Indies. (Pimento orAllspice.)Branches round ; twigs compressed, the younger and the pedicelsdowny. Leaves oblong or oval, with pellucid dots, somewhat opaque,smooth. Panicles axillary and terminal, trichotomous. Some flowers4-fid and subsessile in the forks of the panicle. Berry globose,1-seeded, black, the size of a pea. Embryo roundish with thecotyledonsconsolidated. All the plant, especially the unripe fruit, abounds in anessential oil, which is a powerful irritant and is often used to allaytoothach. The bruised berries are carminative, stimulating the stomach,promoting digestion, and relieving flatulency.76