on the Hortus Malabaricus, Part IV. 215 
The elder Burman, although accurate respecting the genus, referred the 
Kadali to an improper species, quoting it for his Melastoma quinquenervia 
hirta major, capitulis sericeis villosis (Thes. Zeyl. 155. t. 73.) ; for Rheede says 
of his Kadali, *e pediculo ad apicem folii tres nervi crassiores transeunt :" 
and of the Katou Kadali he says, “ folia Kadali foliis similia, at—per folii 
longitudinem non tres sed quinque nervi crassiores transeunt.” Burman ought 
therefore to have quoted the Kadali for his Melastoma scabra trinervia (Thes. 
Zeyl. 154. t. 72.). 
Linnzeus in the Flora Zeylanica (171.) not only adopted this error of Bur- 
man, and quoted the Kadali with three nerves for his Melastoma foliis lanceo- 
lato-ovatis scabris quinquenerviis, but he also referred the Katou Kadali with 
five nerves to his Melastoma foliis lanceolatis trinerviis scabris (Fl. Zeyl. 76.). 
In fact, Linnceus in the Flora Zeylanica describes three species of Melastoma, 
as does also Burman; but as two of the former have three nerves, while two 
of the latter have five, if we can depend on this character, Linnzeus must have 
been mistaken in considering his three plants the same with those of Burman ; 
and it remains to be ascertained which of the two plants with three nerves 
described by Linnzus is that of Burman, and also which of the plants with 
five nerves described by Burman is that of Linnzeus. As the Kadali has only 
three nerves, it is only with these that we have here to do; and, as I have 
observed, it cannot be either the plant of Burman or Linnzeus to which these 
authors have referred it, because both have five nerves. An observation of Bur- 
man may serve to explain which of the plants with three nerves most resem- 
bles it. He says, (Thes. Zeyl. 156.,) * descriptio in Hort. Malab. accuratior 
est, et plantae nostree magis convenit, quam figura ibi expressa, quce glaberrima 
ibi depicta est, quum tota sit scabra et hirsuta, quod vitium szpius in Hort. 
Malab. observavi." Now Rheede says, * Ramuli—lanuginosi et asperi—folia 
—aspera, exiguis spinulis horrida." This description, upon which, as Burman 
says, we must rely, is applicable enough to the Melastoma scabra trinervia of 
Burman (Thes. Zeyl. 154. t. 72.), which, besides, has the flowers disposed in 
racemi like the Kadali, and of a similar size. Linneus refers this plant ci 
Burman to his Melastoma foliis lanceolatis trinerviis glabris : margine hispidis ; 
but from the circumstances above mentioned, this would seem to be a mistake, 
and he should have quoted it for his Melastoma foliis lanceolatis trinerviis 
