Dr. Jack on the Malayan Species of Melastoma. 11 
9. MELASTOMA ROTUNDIFOLIA. JW. J. 
M. octandra, foliis maximis subrotundis septemnerviis, floribus 
capitatis involucratis. 
Segoonil. Malay. 
. Found in the Musi Country, in the interior of Sumatra. 
A shrub. Leaves opposite, long-petioled, subrotund, with a sharp 
acumen at the point, sometimes cordate at the base, about 
nine inches long, entire, seven-nerved, with a less distinct 
additional pair near the margin, the middle ones combined a 
little above the base, nearly smooth, dotted with ferruginous 
points, particularly on the under surface and on the nerves, 
deep green above, pale tinged with red beneath.  Petioles 
from five to eight inches long, channelled above and ciliate 
with long soft hairs. Peduncles axillary, solitary, shorter 
than the petioles, supporting a dense head of involucred 
flowers. Flowers numerous, pedicelled, collected into a 
roundish, head. Involucre, of five or six large, cordate, 
broad, many-nerved, ciliate, purple leaves embracing the 
_ flowers. Calyx tubular, nearly smooth, dotted ; limb qua- 
. drifid. Corolla purple, four pétalled: Stamina eight, 
equal. Anthers arcuate, beaked, inappendiculate, having 
their points inflexed before expansion. Ovary connected 
by septa to the bottom of the calyx, four-celled, polyspo- 
rous, with central placentæ. Style na Berry four-celled, 
many-seeded. 
Oss. This is a very singular dnd well marked species, fliin- 
guished from all the others of the genus by its large subro- 
tund leaves, and by the peculiarity of having the flowers in 
a crowded head surrounded by a large involucre. In this 
particular it deviates -widely from the usual habit of the 
c2 Mela- 
