the little-known Miconia pulverulenta of Ruiz and Pavon, a 

 species not found in our Herbarium, eminently rich in Melasto- 

 macea. Ruiz and Pavon's character is very brief and unsatis- 

 factory, " Foliis ovatis 5-nervibus crenulis acumine obtuso." De 

 Candolle's character is somewhat more in accordance with the 

 plant, more so perhaps than Naudin's ; yet they are derived from 

 the same source, viz. the specimens gathered by Dombey. But, 

 indeed, when it is known that Naudin enumerates 304 species of 

 Miconia (including 103 dubious ones), it may well be supposed 

 that the difficulty of clearly defining a species is very great, espe- 

 cially if unaccompanied by a figure. The beauty of the foliage 

 alone of this plant recommends it to cultivation in our stoves. 

 It forms a much-branched aud bushy shrub or tree (Ruiz and 

 Pavon say " quadriorgyalis "). The leaves often attain a foot 

 in length, are very velvety, and, as in so many of the genus, 

 strongly reticulately wrinkled. The flowers are very insignifi- 

 cant, and enveloped in a dense floccose tomentum, of a pale fer- 

 ruginous colour. 



Fig. 1. Flower. 2. The same with the petals removed. 3. The same laid 

 open, showing the pistil, the stamens being removed. 4. Transverse section of 

 the ovary. 5. A petal. 6, 7. Stamens :— all more or less magnified. 



