Myoporum
(from myo, to shut, and poros, a pore, or opening; referring to the transparent spots on the leaves). SYNS. Andreusia, Pogonia (of Andrews). ORD. Myoporineae. This genus comprises about twenty species of erect, tall, or diffuse, greenhouse shrubs, rarely subshrubs, inhabiting Australia, New Zealand, the Mascarene Islands, the Malayan Archipelago, the islands of the Pacific, China, and Japan. Flowers often white, small or medium; corolla tube very short or cylindrical, sub-campanulate or funnel-shaped; pedicles axillary, often fasciculate. Leaves alternate or rarely opposite, entire or dentate. The species thrive in a compost of loam and peat, with a small quantity of sand added. Propagated by cuttings of the young shoots, taken during April, and inserted in sand, under a bell glass. The species are rarely seen in cultivation. All those described below are natives of Australia.
M. acuminatum (acuminate). fl. white; corolla almost campanulate, more or less bearded inside. March. l. alternate, varying from elliptic-oblong to lanceolate or linear. h. 3ft. 1812.
M. debile (weak). fl. pink or purplish. June. l. alternate, shortly petiolate or nearly sessile, elliptic, oblong, or lanceolate, entire or toothed. h. 1 1/2ft. 1793.
M. parvifolium (small-leaved). fl. white, solitary, or two or three together. June. l. scattered, rather crowded, linear or linear-spathulate, sometimes under 1/2in. long. h. 3ft. 1803. (B. M. 1693.) M. serratum (saw-toothed). fl. white and purple, several in each axil. May. l. generally elliptic-oblong or lanceolate, obtuse or acute, and more or less serrate, but in some maritime species nearly all entire. h. 2ft. The leaves and flowers of this species are very variable.