644 
MELASTOMA heteromalla. 
New Brazil Melastoma. 
— — 
DECANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Nat. ord. MELASTOMACEE. Jussieu gen. 328. Div. I. Germen inferum. 
MELASTOMA. Supra vol. 5. fol. 363. 
Div. Folia septinervia. 
M. heteromalla, foliis cordato-ovalibus integerrimis petiolatis subtús floccu- 
loso-lanatis, petalis obcordatis, antheris basi arcuatis. Don MSS. 
Fruticosa, pubescens; caulis erectus suborgyalis, ramis supernè axilla- 
ribus, oppositis, brevibus, cumque caulis parte novellá obtuse 4-gonis. Fol. 
decussato-distantia, ovalia, apice rotundata, basi cordata, 4-T-uncialia 
latitudine 3-5-unciali, septinervia nervis suprà immersis infrà varicosis 
venas numerosas transversas approximatas parallelas utrinque emittentibus, 
supra setoso-sericea, subtus land flosculoso-dispertita simplici candicantia, 
inferiora deflexa: petioli 1-2-unciales, robusti, suprà planiusculi. Pa- 
nicula terminalis, decussato-distans, erecta; rami sericei dichotomi; ra- 
muli teretes adscendentes, imbricate alterneque multiflori ; flores violacei, 
speciosi, sesquiunciam diametro exsuperantes; pedicelli brevissimi, robusti, 
. ljlori; bractez membranacee, rubide, ovate, apice rotundate, appresse 
concave caduce extüs sericee, petiolis longiores. Cal. pedicelli continuus, 
extüs sericeus, tubo oblongo limbum æquante obsolete 5-gono cano-virente, limbo 
5- rariüs 6-partito membranaceo, rotato, rubente caduco, segmentis oblongis 
obtusis intus glabris. Pet. 5, rariüs 6, explanata, obcordata, tenwissime 
ciliata, summo tubo calycis inserta. Stam. 10, rarids 12, declinato-assur- 
gentia, æqualia, corollá aliquoties breviora : fil. alba, limbo calycis equalia, 
conniventia, pilis paucis capitatis aspersa: anth. ochroleuce, rostratim 
elongate, filamenti subbrevioris apici acuto postice ad basin à juncturá flexili 
affixe, infernè curvo arcto erecto-assurgentes, conniventes, basi intüs pa- 
pilloso-glandulose, ventre transverse rugose, poro summo obliquo dehis- 
centes (estivantes ad fundum calycis usque introflexo-immersæ ). Germ. 
sericeum, oblongum, tubo calycis equale liberéque inclusum, truncatum : 
stylus albus, tereti-elongatus, glaber, suprà curvo brevi assurgens: stigma apex 
isoperimetrus obtusus pruinosus. Caps. baccata tubo calycis obtecta, ovata, 
5- rariús 6-loc., loculorum singulorum medio à rimä oblonga quinquefariàm de- 
hiscens, septa membranacea medio valvarum inserta, axi capsule levius con- 
nexa, receptacula 5 interdüm 6 in singulis loculis singula, carnosa, loculis con- 
ormia, scrobiculato-punctata, imbricatèseminifera : sem. numerosa, reniformi- 
globosa, punctata; testa simplex crustacea fragilis; albumen 0, embryo ar- 
cuatus, semini conformis, albus ; cotyledones breves, crasse, subovales ; ra- 
dicula teres, vaga, cotyledonibus longior. Don MSS. 
A very handsome unrecorded species, introduced from 
the Brazils in 1819. Said to have first flowered in the 
Duke of Northumberland's garden at Sion House, and since 
in many collections about town. The drawing was taken 
