464 LVII, MELASTOMACEE (HOOKER). [ Memecylon. 
dry on both surfaces, penninerved, midrib distinct, lateral nerves very 
numerous, horizontal, very obscure above, invisible beneath. Inflores- 
cence axillary, of apparently many flowers crowded on a very short 
stout peduncle. Flowers wanting. Berry on a stout curved pedicel 
which has the scars of fallen bracteoles at the base, }—? in. diameter, 
globose, crowned with the calyx-limb, 1—2-seeded. Testa crustaceous; 
cotyledons excessively irregularly plaited ; radicle thick, incurved, fleshy 
next the hilum.—Pavetta lateriflora, Don, Gard. Dict. iii. 575. 
Upper Guinea. Sierra Leone, Don! 
Orver LVIII. LYTHRACEZ. (By Mr. W. P. Hiern.) 
Calyx-tube campanulate cylindrical or hemispherical, sometimes 
whitish or coloured, having an oblique mouth in Woodfordia alone ; 
calyx-lobes 4-8, deltoid or lanceolate, valvate in wstivation, and in 
many genera with as many intermediate (usually) exterior teeth or 
cornua. Petals usually isomerous and alternate with the calyx-lobes, 
obovate, often corrugated in the bud, sometimes wanting, deciduous oF 
persistent, inserted around the top of the interior of the calyx-tube. 
Stamens usually definite, inserted on the interior of the calyx-tube, 
declinate in Woodfordia alone ; filaments inflected in the bud; anthers 
2-celled, introrse and versatile except in Olinia, dehiscing by longitu- 
dinal parallel fissures. Ovary free, except in anomalous genera, sessile 
or very shortly stipitate, usually 2—4-celled; cells with many anatro- 
pous ovules attached to a central placenta, except in anomalous genera} 
style simple, persistent; stigma usually capitate, sometimes puncti- 
form or 2-lobed. Fruit 2-4- or many-celled or by obliteration of septa 
1-celled, usually capsular and valvular or with circumscissile or irregular 
dehiscence. Seeds usually numerous, exalbuminous ; embryo straight 
or slightly curved except in Olinia; radicle short.—Herbs, shrubs or 
trees, terrestrial subaquatic or even aquatic. Leaves simple, entire, 
usually opposite, occasionally verticillate or alternate, exstipulate, equa 
at the base. Flowers hermaphrodite, solitary racemose cymose oF 
panicled, usually axillary, bracteate, sometimes dimorphous of tri- 
morphous, 
A considerable Family, inhabiting for the most part the Tropics of both hemispheres ; 
; ae of them are found in temperate latitudes. Five small genera are limite to 
Tica. 
Ovary free. Fruit capsular. 
Herbs. 
Calyx tubular. Ovary 2-celled. . . . . .....~. 1. Lyrmeum 
Calyx campanulate (or, if tubular, with a 4-celled ovary). 
flowers sessile or subsessile, usually solitary . . . . . 2. Rorata. 
Flowers racemose : 
Flowers cymose or capitate. 
Petals corrugated in bud. Capsule valvular. . . . . 4. Nes#A. 
Petals not corrugated in bud. Capsule with circumsciss or 
irregular dehiscence . oh 
3. RuyacoPsila- 
. 
5, AMMANNIA- 
