10 Dr. Jacx on the Malayan Species of Melastoma. 
** Antheris omnibus consimilibus. (SrowANDRA). 
8. MELASTOMA EXIGUA. W.J. 
Tan. I. fig. 2. a—f. 
M. octandra, paniculis terminalibus, foliis longe petiolatis ovatis 
acuminatis glabris quinquenerviis, calyce quadridentato. 
Native of Pulo Penang. 
An erect branched shrub, with brownish bark and four-sided 
branches, sparingly sprinkled with rusty down. ‘Leaves 
large, opposite, long-petioled, ovate, acuminate, acute at the 
base, almost entire, smooth, five-nerved, with strong trans- 
verse reticulated veins.  Petioles long, channelled above, . 
smooth. Stipules none. Panicles terminal, erect, small, 
with opposite divaricate ramifications. Flowers small and 
inconspicuous. Calyx inferior, tubular, connected with 
the base of the ovary by eight septa; limb erect, four- 
toothed. Petals four, small, white with a tinge of red, 
ovate, acute. Stamina eight, nearly erect, the alternate 
ones alittle shorter. Anthers purple, erect, linear, acute, 
emarginate at the base (neither curved, rostrate, nor appen- 
diculate). Style ascending, aslong asthe stamina. Stigma 
simple. Fruit small, dry, ovate-oblong, four-celled, many- 
seeded ; the placentz from the axis. — — 
Ogs. This species is remarkable by its very small flowers dis- 
posed in a divaricate open panicle, and the comparatively - 
large size of its leaves. The fruit might perhaps properly 
be considered a capsule, as it appears to be destitute of pulp. 
The gradations from a berry to a capsule in this family are 
such, that it is difficult to draw the line of distinction; andit 
seems questionable, whether this difference, when unsup- 
ported by other characters, can be considered of generic value. 
9. Mera- 
