It seems curious that plants so long known and extensively cultivated as these, and which have been so often described and figured, should have been at the present time, removed from Myrtus to be associated with Eugenia.
DeCandolle who was the first to refer these species to the genus Eugenia, seems either to have been misled by wrong specimens or had not examined those he had with sufficient care, as he describes the fruit " Bacca globosa 1 sperma. Embryo subrotundus, cotyledonibus conferruminatis non distinctis toto cœlo ab Icone Gœrtner diversis." The concluding words of this description which I have printed in Italics are so much at variance with what I have observed, that I can scarcely avoid suspecting the seed he examined must have been that of some other tree, given by mistake, for in truth I find Gærtner's figure a most accurate representation, as a comparison with the accompanying figure of mine will show. If therefore D.C. had a genuine specimen, I can only account for the error he has fallen into, by supposing he simply cut the seed across without removing the testa as Gærtner and I have done.
Dr. Hooker published a figure of Myrcia acris in the Botanical Magazine, tab. 3153,but curiously enough seems to have taken the drawing from one species and the description from another, as he says the calyx is 4-lobed, but with 5 petals ! The ovary is described as being "2- celled with one broad ovule pendent from the top of each cell" but is represented with two ovules. Eugenia Pimenta has quaternary flowers and a solitary ovule in each cell, E. acris has quinary flowers and several ovules in each cell. There is another circumstance connected with that figure and description which may be alluded to. The seeds of E. pimenta and M. acris, it is said, are very different " if DeCandolle be correct," but yet, though the Pimenta or Jamaica pepper is to be had in every grocer's shop, it does not appear that any attempt was made to ascertain the correctness or otherwise of D.C.'s statement, or determine whether they were so different as he asserts.
Dr. Arnott examined both the ovary and young fruit of P. acris and most strangely mistook the true structure of both. The latter was not so much to be wondered at, as his specimens were immature, so are those now before me, but still they are sufficiently advanced to show that this is not a species of Eugenia, but is a true congener of Pimenta.
I refer two species to this genus, viz.
1. * P. vulgaris (Lind.) flowers quaternary ovary 2-celled with a single ovule in each cell.
2. * P. acris (R. W. Eugenia acris W. and A.) Flowers quinary, ovary 2-celled, with several ovules in each cell, attached round the edge of a broad free placenta.
EUGENIA
I. SURGENUS EUEUGENIA. Calyx tube short, slightly contracted at the throat ; limb 4-parted down to the ovary. Peduncles axillary, one-flowered, bibractiolate at the apex.
1. E. (Eueugenia) Willdenowii (D.C)
2. * E. (E) bracteata (Roxb.) Sea Coast, frequent both on the continent and in Ceylon.
These two are very nearly allied species, but I think quite distinct, though it is difficult to define them so as to keep them separate.
3. E. (E) Roitleriana (W. and A.) Courtallum and subalpine jungles in the southern provinces. This species varies considerably in the size of its leaves but the general form is pretty uniform.
4. E. (E) subcordata (W. and A.) This I find is a mere variety of Eugenia Michelii.
5. E (E) Mooniana (R.W.) Shrubby, glabrous, leaves pellucid dotted, short petioled, ovate, tapering at the base, acuminated; acumen either short and blunt or prolonged and tapering to a fine point : peduncles axillary, solitary or sometimes paired, one flowered : flowers small, calyx tube ventricose, oblong, limb 4-cleft, segments reflexed pointed : fruit globose about the size of a cherry, seed conferruminate.
Ceylon — -Moon — Shevagherry near Courtallum, R. W.
This species approaches E. Michelii but is at once distinguished by its globose not furrowed fruit. Mr. Moon long ago found it in flower in Ceylon but did not name it, more recently I found it in fruit on the Shevagherry hills near Courtallum.
6. E. (E) Mabœoides (R.W.) Shrubby, very ramous leaves short petioled obovate — spathulate, glabrous, rigid, shining above, pellucid dotted, pedicels very short, fascicled on short subaxillary tubercles : calyx tube ventricose, limb 4-parted : ovary 2-celled with numerous ovules attached to the central placenta ; fruit ?
Ceylon. — Moon and Watson. This can scarcely be mistaken for any other Indian species I have seen, its rigid habit, small hard shining spathulate leaves and fascicled flowers, give it a good deal the appearance of Muba buxifolia whence the specific name.
7. E. (E) Codyensis (Munro MSS ) shrubby, glabrous, leaves short petioled, from ovate oblong to obovate, with a short blunt acumen, tapering towards the base, pellucid dotted : flowers subsessile aggregated, forming terminal capituli on the points of short abortive branches, or they are axillary, solitary, or a few together: calyx tube small, clothed with silky tomentum, somewhat globose ; limb persistent, lobes ciliate : petals twice the length of the calyx lobes, ciliate: style and stigma simple : ovary 2-celled ; ovules numerous ; fruit 1-2 seeded, globose.
Afterwards he appears either to have forgot or become dissatisfied with it, as I do not find the name, even as a synonym, in the list of genera in his Natural System of Botany. Owing to this oversight on his part, I had nearly overlooked it. As it was not until my manuscript was ready for the press that I accidently discovered I was not the first to propose this genus, I publish unaltered my account of it, merely adopting Lindley's name, that which I proposed being somewhat different. His only species was the Myrtus pimenta Lin. but as the generic character embraces both my species, I suspect he must either have had them both before him or have taken his character partly from examination and partly from description.
- I am indebted to Dr. Wallich for authentic specimens of all those species marked with a star* in front, in the
following list.
