298 The Philippine Journal of Science m6 



MELASTOMATACEAE 



DISSOCHAETA Blume 

 DISSOCHAETA ROBINSONII sp. nov. § Diplostemones. 



Frutex scandens, ramulis inflorescentiisque densissime brun- 

 neo-stellato-tomentosis ; foliis oblongo-ovatis, acute acuminatis, 

 tenuiter apiculatis, basi late rotimdatis, chartaceis, usque ad 10 

 cm longis, supra glabris, nitidis, subtus brunneo-stellato-tomen- 

 tosis, basi 5-nerviis; paniculis anguste pyramidatis, circiter 10 

 cm longis, bracteolis lineari-lanceolatis, circiter 5 mm longis; 

 calycis circiter 11 mm longis, 6 mm diametro, deorsum gradatim 

 angustatis, haud urceolatis, extus densissime brunneo-stellato- 

 tomentosis pilisque paucis simplicibus instructis, lobis 4, obtusis, 

 circiter 1.5 mm longis; petalis circiter 15 mm longis, obovatis, 

 retusis, utrinque glabris. 



A scandent shrub, the branchlets and inflorescence very densely 

 covered with a dark-brown stellate indumentum, as are the pe- 

 tioles, and to a less degree the branches and lower surface of the 

 leaves. Branches and branchlets terete. Leaves chartaceous, 

 oblong-ovate, 8 to 10 cm long, 4 to 5 cm wide, apex slenderly acumi- 

 nate and with a very slender apiculus, base broadly rounded, prom- 

 inently 5-nerved, the upper surface smooth, shining, glabrous, 

 greenish when dry, the lower brown, the nerves and nervules 

 densely stellate-pubescent, darker than the surface which is sup- 

 plied with similar scattered hairs ; transverse nervules numerous, 

 prominent, straight ; petioles about 1 cm long. Panicles terminal, 

 narrowly pyramidal, about 10 cm long, the bracteoles linear- 

 lanceolate, about 5 mm long. Calyx-tube about 11 mm long, 6 mm 

 in diameter at the apex, gradually narrowed below to the cuneate 

 base, the pedicels 3 to 4 mm long, all parts very densely stellate- 

 pubescent with dark-brown hairs, and with few, scattered, much 

 longer, simple hairs intermixed, the lobes 4, very broad, obtuse, 

 about 1.5 mm long. Petals 4, obovate, about 1.5 cm long, 1 cm 

 wide, apex broadly rounded and retuse, base narrowed, acute, 

 glabrous on both surfaces, white, the base and margins lilac. 

 Stamens 8, the longer four with filaments 11 mm in length and 

 anthers about 15 mm long, the latter somewhat S-shaped, linear, 

 acuminate, the appendages filiform, flexuous, about 11 mm long. 



Amboina, Hitoe messen, Rel. Robins. 202U, November 5, 1913, climbing 

 on trees at an altitude of about 100 meters. 



The alliance of this species is with Dissochaeta annulata Hook, f., from 

 which it differs in numerous characters Among these are the thinner, 

 somewhat smaller leaves; the apparently much denser indumentum; the 



