106 



enttmehation of {^Melastomacem, 



phala, Naud. 1. c. G7. ? O. cu^ularis, Don ; W. et A., I.e.; Naud. 1. c 

 61. ? O. octandra, DC. Prodr. iii. 142, cum syn.— c.p. 507, -ifaiJ. 

 Had. Common \ip to an elevation of 3000 feet. 



A very variable plant in the amount of pabcsceuce upon the stems and leaves, 

 and in the number of setose appendages to the calyx. 



2. MELASTOMA, Linn. 



1 M. Malabatlirictim, Linn. (W- et A. Prod. i. 324, cum syn.)— Jf. 

 ellipfieum, Naud. Ann. des Sci. Nat. ser. 3. vol. xhi. p. 291 ; Wa p. 

 Ann. ii. 5G7. M. Boyneii, Blume ; Walp. Ecpert. ii. 133.— c.r. 1571.^ 



Var. ^ ; ramulis scaberrimis ; foliis JorihicsqWc majonbus ; calycis 

 dentibus lanccolatis, tubo longioribus.— c.p. 1574 (2092). 



IIab Var. a. Common in the liotter parts of the island. Var. /:J. 

 Up to an elevation of 3000^ feet. Norn. vulg. " Bowitteya," *'Maha- 

 bowitteya," " Katakaloow a." 



The flat scales which clothe the calyx of var. p arc shorter and less^ shining thau 

 in var. a : hoth sometiTnes occur with pale purple flowers. The fruit, when ripe, 

 bursts irregularly, and exposes a dark-coloured pulp, covered with the small seeds : 

 this pulp is eaten hy children, and stains the inside of their mouths of a black 

 colour. 



3. MEDINILLA, Gaud. 



? Tri^Jedrum, Don, MSS., W. et A. 



1. M. maculata, Gardner in Cale. Joum. of Bot, vpl. viii. p. 13; 

 foUis ovatis vel ovato-lanceolatis, subcordatis, erenatis, apice retusis ; 

 brevissinie petio)ati8, 3-nerviis ; pedunculis axillaribus, l-3-floris_; 



Jtorihus parvis, 4-meris ; antheris basi postice calcaratis, antice bi-uuci- 



natia. — c.p. 1578. . i . i • 



Var. j3, cuneata; foliis majoribns, rotundato-cuneatis, abruptc breyi- 



acuminatis vel retusis.— c.p. 3443. (iVn species distincta P) 



Hab. Var. a. Central Province, at an elevation of 3000 to 5000 feet. 

 Var. i3. Hellessee, Pasdoon Corle. ^ 



Frutex epiphytus. EamuH 4-goni, angulis undulatis. Folia s uh earn osa, sup erne 

 glabra, suhtus pilis minutissimis glandulosis conspersa, f-lf (var. ^, li-24) poU. 

 longa, 4-12 lin. (var. ^, f-3 poll.) lata. PeduncuU folio midto brcviorcs. Caly^ 

 urceoiatus, rainutissime 4-dentatus, camosus. Teiala pallida rosea, subrotunaala, 

 rcflcxa, cjrciter %\ lin. longa. Antherce subulatfc. Baccm rubrcx. 



2. M. fuchsioides, Gardner, 1. c. ; foliis 3-5-ncrviis, rbomboideo- 

 oblongis, basi truncatulis, supcrne glabris, subtus sparse minutissimo 

 glandulosis, brevissime pctiolatis ; pedunculis in axillis foliorum ae- 

 lapsorum solitariis, 1-3-floris, folio multo brevioribus ; florihus pen- 

 dulis, 4-meris, petalis rotundatis, conniventlbus ; antheris subulatis, 



basi 3-tuberculatis. — c.p. 138. ri f 1 



Kab. ITewera EUia and otber most elevated parts of tlie Central 



Province. „ 



Frutex epiphytus, dichotomc ramosus. RamuU teretes, cincrei. Folia 2-3 pojf' 

 longa, 1-li poll, lata, suhtus pallidiora, costa rubra. Injloresceniia rubra, reat- 

 celli apiceni versus incrassati, basi bibracteolati. Flores poUicares. Calyx urceolatus, 

 4-dcntatu3. Stylus flliformis. Biigma minutum. Bacat subglobosffi, atro-rubrffi, 

 rirciter 4 liu. in diara. 



