10 Dr. Jack on the Malayan Species of Melastoma, 



** An theris omnibus consimilibus. (Stomandra). 



8. Melastoma exigua. W.J. 



Tab. I. fig. 2. a—f. 



M. octandra, paniculis terminalibus, foliis longe petiolatis ovatis 



acuminatis glabris quinquenerviis, calyce quadridentato. 

 Native of Pulo Penang. 



An erect branched shrub, with brownish bark and four-sided 

 branches, sparingly sprinkled with rusty down. Leaves 

 large, opposite, long-petioled, ovate, acuminate, acute at the 

 base, almost entire, smooth, five-nerved, with strong trans- 

 verse reticulated veins. Petioles long, channelled above, 

 smooth. Stipules none. Fanicles terminal, erect, small, 

 with opposite divaricate ramifications. Flowers small and 

 inconspicuous. Calyx inferior, tubular, connected with 

 the base of the ovary by eight septa ; limb erect, four-, 

 toothed. Petals four, small, white Avith a tinge of red, 

 ovate, acute. Stamina eight, nearly erect, the alternate 

 ones a little shorter. Anthers purple, erect, linear, acute, 

 emarginate at the base (neither curved, rostrate, nor appen- 

 diculate). aS^j/Zc ascending, as long as the stamina. Stigma 

 simple. Fruit small, dry, ovate-oblong, four-celled, many- 

 seeded ; the placentae from the axis. 



Obs. This species is remarkable by its very small flowers dis- 

 posed in a divaricate open panicle, and the comparatively 

 large size of its leaves. The fruit might perhaps properly 

 be considered a capsule, as it appears to be destitute of pulp. 

 The gradations from a berry to a capsule in this family are 

 such, that it is difficult to draw the line of distinction ; and it 

 seems questionable, whether this difference, when unsup- 

 ported by other characters, can be considered of generic value . 



9. Mela- 



