DR. O. STAPF ON THE FLORA OF MOUNT KINABALU. 163 
group just mentioned. It differs from typical Memecylon levigatum chiefly in the narrower 
leaves with a longer acumen, in the longer pedicels, and a more conspicuous, distinctly 
4-lobed calyx-limb. The leaves of M. lanceolatum vary from lanceolate (13-2 : 4 in.) 
with hardly any acumen to elliptic-oblong (13-2: 1 in.) with a very distinct acumen, 
and are 4—6 lin. in length. It is the latter form (Beccari, S. P. 2424) which is represented 
in the Kinabalu specimen, whilst the former (Beccari, 2118) is the type from which 
Cogniaux drew his description. The leaves of Dr. Haviland’s specimen are olive-green to 
olive-brown above and yellowish green beneath, whilst those of Beccari's specimens are 
_very dark above and olive-brown beneath, and an analogous difference is obvious in the 
colouring of the young branchlets. I doubt, however, very much whether this difference 
is a character of specific value. The berries of the Kinabalu plant are smooth, 
about 4 lin. in diameter, and supported by a pedicel 1-14 lin. long. The pedicels rise 
from a very short common peduncle, and bear each two minute bracts at the base. 
PLETHIANDRA Hookert, Stapf, n. sp. Frutex. Rami crassiusculi, teretes, cortice 
cinereo-albido. Folia petiolo 1 lin. longo, crasso suffulta, vel subsessilia, 21—4 poll. 
longa, 12-2 poll. lata, basi subrotundata, apice obtusissima vel subretusa, crasse 
coriacea, subconcoloria, utrinque nitidula, 5pli-nervia, paribus nervorum remotis, 
evenia. Flores axillares 3, rarius 4 vel 5 fasciculati. Pedicelli 2-3 lin. longi, 
crassiusculi, purpurei. Calyx urceolato-campanulatus, 24 lin. longus, glaberrimus, 
purpureus, limbo crassiusculo integro. Petala 6 rosea, obovato-elliptica, acuta, 3 
lin. longa. Stamina vix 30 annulo incrassato inserta, exteriora 6 vel paulo plura 
longiora; filamenta circa 2 lin. longa; antherz lineares, obtusze, 1 lin. longs, basi 
inconspicue bilobe, postice minutissime calcarate, apice poro dehiscentes. Ovarium, 
usque ad verticem in medio leviter depressum, calyci adnatum, 6-loculare; septa 
tenuissima; placentze bifidee ex angulo superiore orte. Bacca (immatura) globosa, 
limbo calycino coronata, in vertice annulo staminigero persistente instructa. 
At 6600 feet (Haviland, 1169). 
There is no doubt that the plant just described belongs to Plethiandra, a genus founded 
by Sir Joseph Hooker on a rather poor specimen collected by Motley in Labuan. This 
genus was placed at the end of Melastomacez by the authors of * Genera Plantarum,’ 
and amongst Astroniez by Cogniaux. The excellent material which is now in my hands 
enables me to determine its true position. It is nearest allied to Medinilla—so near, 
indeed, that it could be treated almost as a polyandrous section or subgenus of it. The 
general habit is exactly that of Medinilla, and the floral structure differs but little, 
apart from the number of the stamens. 'There are 6-merous species in various groups of 
Medinilla. The stamens are inserted, as in Medinilla, on the thickened annular internal 
margin of the calyx-tube in a single series, or nearly so; but the anthers are grouped 
finally more or less in concentric rows. Their shape differs from that of typical Medinilla 
in the almost absolute suppression of the processes of the connective and in their exactly 
linear shape. They open with pores like Medinilla. The authors of * Genera Plantarum’ 
say “rimis longitudinalibus antice dehiscentibus.” I have not observed this mode of 
dehiscence either in P. Hookeri or in another new species from Sarawak, collected by 
