Dr. Jack on the Malayan Species of Melastoma. 11 



9. Melastoma iiotundifolia. JV. 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-petalled. 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 placentae. Stylelong. Bern/ four-celled, 

 many- seeded. 



Obs. This is a very singular and well marked species, distin- 

 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 



c 2 Mela- 



