VIII, c. 4 Merrill: Philippine Melastomataceae, I 241 
Among the known Philippine species most closely allied to Medinilla 
confusa Merr., but distinguished at once by its angled branches and branch- 
lets, its densely setose nodes, and its petioled leaves; from Medinilla inter- 
media Bl., it differs in its angled stems, and petioled, acuminate, more 
numerously nerved leaves. 
17. MEDINILLA BREVIPES sp. nov. 
Frutex glaber, scandens, ramulis teretibus, nodis vix setosis; 
foliis oppositis, ellipticis ad late oblongo-ellipticis, usque ad 15 
cm longis, basi late rotundatis, distincte cordatis, brevissime 
petiolatis, tenuiter 7-plinerviis, apice brevissime abrupte acum- 
inatis; inflorescentiis terminalibus, paniculatis, floribus 4-meris. 
A glabrous shrub, scandent according to the field notes, the 
branches and branchlets terete, striate when dry, nodes not at 
all setose. Leaves opposite, coriaceous, elliptic to broadly oblong- 
elliptic, somewhat shining when dry, lower surface a little paler 
than the upper one, 1*0 to 15 cm long, 7 to 8 cm wide, base 
broadly rounded, distinctly cordate, apex very abruptly, broadly, 
and shortly acuminate ; nerves usually 7, sometimes 5, the midrib 
very broad and prominent, the lateral nerves leaving the midrib 
just above the base of the leaf, the interior pair rather distinct 
at the base, becoming slender and indistinct above but reaching 
the apex, the next outer pair slender, not prominent, becoming 
obsolete above or reaching the apex, the outermost pair (when 
present) indistinct, not reaching beyond the middle of the leaf, 
or if so, then very indistinct, the reticulations obsolete; petioles 
very stout, 2 to 3 mm long, 5 to 6 mm wide. Panicle terminal, 
15 to 20 cm long, the peduncle about one-half as long as the 
flower-bearing part, the branches whorled, 4-nate, 5 to 6 cm 
long, the whorls distant; bracts lanceolate, 5 mm long or less. 
Flowers pink, 4-merous, their pedicels about 4 mm long. Calyx 
cup-shaped, about 3 mm long, truncate. Petals 4, obliquely 
obovate, 5 mm long. Stamens 8, equal; filaments 3 mm long; 
anthers lanceolate, acuminate, 3 mm long, base somewhat sagit- 
tate by the spreading anterior appendages, the dorsal spur very 
minute. Fruit cup-shaped or ovoid, truncate, 4 to 5 mm in 
diameter. 
Luzon, Province of Tayabas, Quinatacutan River, Bur. 13179 Fox- 
worthy & Ramos, March, 1911, on fallen trees in forests, altitude about 
100 mm. 
A species well characterized by its elliptic leaves which are broadly 
rounded and distinctly cordate at the base, the faint nerves and the retic- 
ulations obsolete, and by its very short stout petioles. It is manifestly 
allied to Medinilla ovalis Merr., being at once distinguished by its larger 
leaves and its very short stout petioles. 
