148 MELASTOMA FAMILY. 



45. MELASTOMACE.EJ, MELASTOMA FAMILY. 



Plants with opposite and simple 3 - 7-ribbed loaves, no stipules, 

 as many or twice as many stamens as petals, both inserted in the 

 throat of the calyx, anther- usually of peculiar shape and opening 

 hy a small hole at the apex. Flowers usually handsome, but mostly 

 scentless. A large "order in the tropics, represented in northern 

 temperate regions only by the genus Rhexia of the Atlantic States. 

 .None in common cultivation, but the following are those more 

 usually met with in choice conservatories : 



Centradenia rdsea, from Mexico: a low ami lm-hy almost herbaceous 

 plant, with unequal-sided and falcate broadly lanceolate leave.-, apparently 

 iillinidtc (which comes from the diminution or total stippn-sion of one leaf of 

 each ].air). producing -rent abundance of Mii.ill flowers in short raceme-like clus- 

 ters, with 4 white and rose-tinged petals, and S anthers with curious club-shaped 

 and tail-like appendages. 



HeterOC&ntron r6seum, from Mexico : an herh, or nearly so. with thin 

 ovate leaves which arc fitl>,-r-r,-ninl rather than rihhed, and with terminal pani- 

 cles of handsome bright rose-colored tlowers (and a white variety), of 4 petals 

 and s very unequal and dissimilar stamens, some with appendages at base, -ome 

 without. 



Cyanophyllum metallicum, from Central America, cultivated in hot- 

 houses for its magnificent foliage; the ovate leave- sometimes fully two feet 

 Ion;:, purple lieiieath and hluish above with metallic lustre. Then we have the 

 U. S. genus, 



1. RHfiXIA, DKKU-<;l!ASS, MKADOW-BEAUTY. (Name from 

 Creek for riijitiin : application ohseiire.) Low erect herhs of wet or sandy 

 <:r<>iind, commoner S.. often bristly, at least on tlic mar-ins of the sessile 

 :;- 5-ribhed leaves, \\itli handsome lluwers in a terminal cyme or panicle. 

 Tube of the cahx nrtl-shaped, adherent to the lower part of the 4-eellei! ovary 

 anil continued "beyond it 'into a short 4-toothed enp, persistent. Petal- 4, 

 obovaie. Stamen's S, with anthers openiiiLT l>\' a single minute hole. Style 

 slender: sti-ma simple. Seeds nnmerous in the pod, coiled like minute snail- 

 shells. Fl. summer. 2/ 



# Aiil/ni'x Unnir mul nii-ntl, ir/'lli <i >v/r-///v lnin,> mill usually a minute spur : 

 l/'in-i r.-i in ii panicle or loose cyme. 



R. Vil'ginica. The common species X., in sandy swamps : 6' -:><)' hi^h, 

 with square stem almost winded at the angles, Ovate or lance-oval sessile leaves, 

 and lar^e pink-purple ilo\\crs. 



R. Mariana. From New Jersey and Kentucky S. : 10' - 24' high, with 



trrete or i',-aii-lcd branching stem, linear or lance-oblong leaves narrowed at 

 base, and paler purple llowrs hairy ont-ide. 



R. glabella. 1'ine barrens S : -mooth, with a siin]>le slender stem, lan- 

 ccolate glaucous leave-, and lar-'C briuht-pnrplc (lowers. 



* * Aiiltn ; - s oblong <ni<l straight, <l* si//n/< "/' n/n/ <>/>/'> nduge. 



H- Flowers ]>nr/i/r, fiir nr Kulitiiri/ : lun-m sniul! (nii-i-li/ \' loin/), roiintl, d-< 

 ci/inli intlt /.<//</ lii-ixt/i.-i : nfi m m/niii'i-, sm,ii'i/t. 



R. Cilidsa. I'>O.L;-S in | in'' barren- from Maryland S. : stem Id'- 12' hi-h ; 

 leaves bristly on the upper face ; and calyx si th. 



R. Serrillata. I'-o.^- in ]>ine barrens wholly S. : stem :!' - 6' ln'i;Ii : leaves 

 smooth alio\ e ; calyx bristly. 



i- i- F'litri rx i/illtni', small, inti/iinnm, not r,/.s7/// tin' ]><tnl* ;/7//, <;.s- il tin- ntl< /> : 

 xti-iii 4-niii//i<l, lris.it ii, bushy-branched above. 



R. liltea. From North Carolina S. ^ W. : stem 1 liigli, bristly; Icares 

 lanceolate, or the lower obovatu ; calyx smooth. 



