Page:Manual of the New Zealand Flora.djvu/209

Myrtus.] 2. M. Ralphii, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. ii. 329.—An erect branching shrub 6–15 ft. high, rarely taller and becoming a small tree; branchlets very slender, and with the young leaves sparingly tomentose. Leaves ⅔–1 in. long, usually green, shortly petioled, ovate or oblong-ovate to orbicular-ovate, obtuse or acute, thinly coriaceous or almost membranous, the surface flat or very slightly tumid between the veins. Flowers quite as in M. bullata but slightly smaller. Berry ¼–⅓ in. long, broadly ovoid, dark-red, 2-celled. Seeds much fewer than in M. bullata.—''Handb. N.Z. Fl. 74; Kirk, Forest Fl. t. 94; Students' Fl.'' 165.

3. M. obcordata, Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 71.—A much-branched shrub 5–15 ft. high; branches slender, spreading, the younger ones pubescent. Leaves opposite or in opposite fascicles, $1⁄5$–$1⁄2$ in. long, obcordate, narrowed into a short puberulous petiole, coriaceous, glabrous on both surfaces or slightly silky when young. Flowers solitary, axillary, ¼ in. diam., white. Peduncles as long as the leaves, pubescent. Calyx 4-lobed; lobes oblong, acute. Petals 4, orbicular. Berry ¼ in. long, broadly ovoid, dark-red or violet, 2-celled. Seeds 1–2 in each cell, reniform; testa bony.—''Handb. N.Z. Fl. 74; Kirk, Forest Fl. t. 70; Students' Fl.'' 165. Eugenia obcordata, ''Raoul in Ann. Sci. Nat.'' Ser. iii. 2 (1844) 122.

4. M. pedunculata, ''Hook. f. in Hook. Ic. Plant.'' t. 629.—A much-branched compact or diffuse shrub 5–15 ft. high; branches, slender, glabrous, 4-angled. Leaves opposite, ¼–¾ in. long, obovate or obovate-oblong or oblong-ovate, rounded at the tip, rarely acute, coriaceous, glabrous, narrowed into short petioles. Flowers axillary, solitary, ¼ in. diam., white. Peduncles slender, glabrous, longer or shorter than the leaves. Calyx glabrous, 5-lobed, 2-bracteolate at the base. Petals 5, rounded. Berry small, ¼ in. long, broadly ovoid, red or yellowish, 2-celled. Seeds 2-5.—Fl. Nov. Zel. i. 71; ''Handb. N.Z. Fl. 74; Kirk, Forest Fl. t. 112; Students' Fl.'' 165. Eugenia vitis-idæa, ''Raoul in Ann. Sci. Nat.'' Ser. iii. 2 (1844) 122.