14 Dr. Jack on the Malayan Species of Melastoma. 



so low ; four-celled, polysporous, placentae from the inner 

 angles. Style erect, as long as the stamina. Berry ovate, 

 four-celled, many-seeded. 

 Obs. Besides being tetrandrous, this species is remarkable for 

 the unusual mode of attachment of the anthers to the fila- 

 ments, of which a partial example is afforded in the preced- 

 ing. There is a strong resemblance between the two in 

 habit as well as in this particular. Here we have the ovary 

 completely adnate to the calyx, while in the preceding the 

 anthers reach lower down, and are therefore lodged in cells 

 betwixt them ; but the two species are too nearly related in 

 all other respects to admit of being separated on this ac- 

 count. 



12. Melastoma GRACILIS. W.J. 



M. octandra, staminibus alternis nanis, paniculis terminalibus 

 gracilibus, foliis ovatis acuminatis glabris trinerviis, ramis 

 compressis. 



Sedudu akar. Malay. 



Sumatra. 



A shrub. Branches compressed, nearly smooth. Leaves oppo- 

 site, petiolate, ovate or lanceolate-ovate, rounded at the 

 base, very acuminate, four inches long, smooth, dotted with 

 minute tubercles above, three-nerved, with a less distinct 

 marginal pair, the transverse veins conspicuous. Petioles 

 short, slender. Panicle terminal, oppositely branched, pe- 

 duncles and pedicels slender, thickened at their joints. 

 Bracts linear. Calyx ovate, smooth ; limb absolutely four- 

 lobed, persistent. Corolla blueish-white, four-petalled. Sta- 

 mina eight, the alternate ones considerably smaller ; anthers 

 nearly straight, without beaks, furnished at the base with 



two 



