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Melastoma.'] 



Lx. MELASTOMACE^. (C. B. Clarke.) 



525 



' Pegu, Kurz,^ Tenasserim or Akdamans; Hel/er (Kew Distrib. No, 2241). 



Leaves 4-5 in,, broad-lanceolate ; petiole }-| in. Flowers clustered. Hairs on 

 idyx-tuhe \-^ in. — This species is essentially like M, sanguinmm, but the indu- 

 mentum of the stem and branches is of a widely different character : as to the leaves, 

 the indumentum of M. sanguineum var. molle is exactly half-way between that of 

 M. sanguineum and M. Houtteanum, 



DOUBTFUL SPECIES. 



As to the numerous species of MelasioTna admitted by Triana in Trans. Linn. 

 8oc, xx\'iii. 59, 60 as native in India, the names M. trifiorum, Naud. ; ellipticum^ 

 Naud. ; microphyllum, Naud. ; lanugirwsum, Blume ; Royenii, Blume ; longifoliuTUj 

 Naud. are not found in the Kew collection. So far indeed from multiplying species 

 out of the existing material, it would be better to reduce the whole of the Indian 

 forms to three, viz., M, malabathricum (including M. polyanthum and M, imbri- 

 ■catum) ; M. iwrmale ; and M. sanguineum (including M. Hoiittcajium). 



As to the 13 species of MelastoTna described by Eoxburgh, the first eight are 

 octandrous ; the next two have been admitted ; the last two are outside the limits of 

 the present Flora. 



M. FiNDLAYSONii, Wall. Cat 4041, has not the place of collection given, and it is 

 ■ooubtful whether it was found within the limits of the Flora Indica. The Wallichian 

 example shows the leaves and fruit, which might be those of OsbecMa Leschenaultiana 

 ■above described ; but Triana (assuming probably that had the stamens been all similar 

 Vvallich would have named it Osbeckia and not Melastoma) has called it Dissotis 

 Findlaysonii, 



M. cuHVA, Roxb, Fl, Lid, ii. 406, ** Shrubby, all the tender parts strigose, leaves 

 petioled ovate-cordate 5-7-nerved finely serrulate, panicles terminal subcory mbi f onn 

 supra-decompound, flowers 10-androus, petals cordate ciliate." — Chittagong. Neither 

 figure nor specimen is known : the description is too short for safe identification. 



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Large spreading shrubs with drooping branches terminated by large, lax, 

 almost naked panicles of rose-purple flowers. Leaves opposite, long-petioled, 

 large, 5~7"nerved, ovate, acuminate, uppermost pair below the panicle often 

 sessile much smaller and subcordate at base. Panicle long, sometimes narrow ; 

 branches decussate ; bracts very small. Calyx-tube ovate-cylindric ; teeth 4, 

 snort, triangular. Petals 4, subacute. Stamens 8, of which 4 are purple with 

 longer filaments, 4 are yellow ; anthers narrowed upwards, at top opening by 

 ^^e pore, produced at base, connective with or without appendage. Ovary 

 interior, 4-celled, apex glabrous; style simple, elongate; ovules very many, 

 placentas axile, radiating. Capsule dry, elliptic, elongBte, with 8 ribs. Seeds 

 I^ry many, falcate ; raphe lateral, produced at toj) in front into a point. — 

 A^isxRiB. Species 4, whereof 3 are in Eaat Bengal, 1 in Sumatra. 



th 1* ^' P^'^'^^^lataj ^O' Prodr. iii. 123 ; branchlets panicles and nerves of 

 ^e leaves beneath with some stellate pubescence, capsule long-elliptic very little 

 ^rrowed below the calyx-mouth, seeds with a sharp right an^le at the top of 

 4 oo ^^ and a produced angular point at the top in front. Wall PL As. Bar. 



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Mem. Melast. t. 4 (not correct as to the base of the connectiv 

 Miq, FL Ind. Bat. i. pt. i. p. 556. 0. vagans, Bot. Mag 

 Jard. PI, t. 79. Arthrostemma paniculatum, Don in Mem. 1 

 Prodr. 222 {partly). Melastoma rugosa, Boxb. MS. 



j^SuBTHoPicAL and Tkmpekate Himaxya, from Nipal to Bhotan ; alt. 3000-7000 ft. 

 Asu Mrs. ; alt. 3000-5000 ft., common. Abundant in the interior of Sikkim cover- 

 . ^'^g the hill sides. 



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