Dr. Jack on the Malayan Species of Melastoma. 19 



betwixt the calyx and ovary. Style as long as the stamina. 

 Stigma simple. Berry rubescent, four-celled, many-seeded. 



17. Melastoma pulverulenta. W. J. 



M. octandra, floribus terminalibus corymboso-paniculatis rubi- 



cundis pulverulentis, foliis ovatis basi bituberculatis gla- 



berrimis trinerviis. 

 Sibiring. Malay. 

 Found, along with the preceding, at Singapore, and in many 



parts of Sumatra and the islands which skirt its western 



coast. 



A shrub with smooth brown bark, and furfuraceous branches. 

 Leaves opposite, petioled, ovate, obtuse, bituberculate at 

 the base, very entire, very smooth, three-nerved, veins not 

 prominent, coriaceous, paler beneath. Stipules none. Pe- 

 tioles short, round, furfuraceous. Panicles terminal, oppo- 

 sitely corymbose : peduncles dichotomous, reddish and pa- 

 pillous. Calyx sub- globose, obscurely four-angled, sur- 

 rounding the ovary, rubescent, pulverulent; limb four- 

 lobed. Corolla four-petalled, red, sprinkled with yellow 

 powder ; petals spreading, lanceolato-ovate, with a small 

 toothlet on each side. Stamina eight, erect ; anthers long, 

 red, with white cells, opening by a pore at the top, straight, 

 furnished behind the base with a fascicle of white hairs ; 

 before expansion incurved like the other Melastoma, but 

 being without beaks, not reaching beyond the top of the 

 ovary. Ovary adnate to the calyx, four-celled, many-seeded ; 

 placenta from the inner angle of the cells. Style declinate, 

 as long as the stamina. Stigma obtuse. Berry sub-globose, 

 four-celled, many-seeded. 

 Obs. These two Singapore species are nearly related to each 

 • \ D 2 other, 



