MYRRH

This gum resin is imported from Turkey: it is in irregular tears and lumps, of a reddish brown colour, a fragrant odour, and a warm but bitter taste. It is probably the produce of a species of Amyris, said to be a native of Aby in i a and Arabia Felix. It is a good stimulating tonic medicine, and is given in doses of from five to twenty grains. MYRTACEiE (Lat. myrtus), are an important natural order of Polypetalous Exogenous plants, of a woody texture, and frequently forming small trees, found in all tropical and temperate countries, where they are often cultivated for the sake of their valuable aromatic proSer ties. The spices cloves and pimento are produced y some species; the agreeable fruits called guava,jamrosade, and rose-apples are yielded by others; while the enormous gum-trees, or Eucalypti, of New Holland, and the MeUeuca, which furnishes tne stimulating green oil of cajeput, also belong to the order. Myrtacea are nearly related to the Onagraceous order, from which they differ in having an indefinite number of stamens; and to Mclastomucece, which have rostrate inflected anthers and ribbed leaves. Then most e ential characters are to have polypetalous calycifloral flowers, indefinite stamens, round erect anthers, mferior fruit, and dotted leaves with an intra-marginal vein. MYRTLE. {Murt, the Persian name, whence ^ttugrej.) An evergreen fragrant bush, inhabiting all the warmer parts of the basin of the Mediterranean and of the west of Asia. It was considered sacred to Venus, and is at this day regarded with superstitious reverence by the Persian peasant. In the latitude of London the myrtle will endure the climate only in the warmest and most sheltered spots. MYSTACl'NE^. (Yunanca köken — orijinale bakınız.) The name of a family of Infusories of the tribe Trichoda, including those which have superficial cilia, or fine hairlike proce es, disposed in groups. Many species of animaU derive their trivial name from the same root, as the Vcspcrtilio mystacinus, or whiskered bat; the Caprimulgus mysttcahs, or bearded goat-sucker: the Cupsclus myslaccus, or bearded swift, . « j> MVSTKRIES, [s. 815]