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Melastoma sanguinea. Red-veined 

 Melastoma. 



Class and Order. 

 Decandria Monogynia. 



Generic Character. 



Cal. 5-fidus, campanulatus. Petala 5. (nunc 6. vel 4.) 

 calyce inserta. Bacca 5-locularis, calyce obvoluta. 



Specific Character. 



Melastoma sanguinea; dodecandra, foliis ovato-lanceolatis 

 quinque nerviis, pedunculis terminalibus solitariis uniflo- 

 ris, germinibus globosis hispidissimis. 



Desc. Stem shrubby, extremely hispid with strong bristles 

 of a dull red colour, branched crosswise. Petioles hairy, red, 

 horizontal, united by a stipulaceous membrane : leaves ovate- 

 lanceolate, sometimes cordate, five-nerved, shining on the 

 upper surface and covered with rough points, margin scabrous, 

 under surface scabrous, pale, with nerves and transverse pa- 

 rallel veins of a bright red colour while young ; the lower 

 leaves are eight inches long and five and a half wide : upper 

 ones narrower. Flowers large, rose-coloured, terminal, so- 

 litary. Germen globular, covered with strong incurved and 

 tangled bristles. Calyx, superior, six-cleft : segments lance- 

 olate with six very small intermediate segments. Petals six, 

 ©bcordate, concave, fleshy, crisped, having an acidulous taste. 

 Stamens twelve, six longer and six interior shorter: anthe- 

 riferous portion of the filament incurved, and terminated at 

 the base with two yellow spurlike appendages. Style declined, 

 shorter than the stamens. Stigma truncate. 



The red colour of the pubescence and of the petioles, and 

 taore especially of the nerves and veins on the under surface 



of 



