8 Dr. Jack on the Malayan Species of Melastoma. 



o. Melastoma nemorosa. W.J. 



M. octandra, pedunculis axillaribus 1— 3-floris, foliis ovato-lan- 

 ceolatis quinquenerviis subtus cum calycibus, ramis, pe- 

 dunculisque ferrugineo-villosis. 



Banga dtan. Malay. 



Native of the Malay Islands. 



A shrub with long, virgate, round, ferruginous branches. Leaves 

 !'> opposite, petiolate, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, slightly 

 cordate at the base, very entire, smooth and green above, 

 hoary with ferruginous dots beneath ; five-nerved, the outer 

 pair of nerves close to the margin. The young leaves are 

 villous on both sides ; on the upper with white stellate hairs, 

 which soon disappear, and are rubbed off with the slightest 

 touch ; below with reddish ferruginous pubescence. Pe- 

 tioles short, round, ferruginous, connected by a prominent 

 interpetiolar line. Stipules none. Pedimcles axillary, soli- 

 tary, one- to three-flowered. Calyx inferior, subovate, 

 closely embracing the ovary, and connected with it by 

 eight septa, rough with ferruginous pubescence ; limb four- 

 parted ; lacinice spreading, acute. Corolla four-petalled, of 

 a flesh or light rose colour, spreading ; petals subrotund, 

 inserted into the calyx alternately with its laciniee. Stamina 

 eight, inserted below the petals, ascending, with arcuate 

 rostrate anthers ; four are longer, have pedicellate anthers, 

 with fimbriated appendages at the base ; the shorter have 

 sessile anthers, with two sette or bristles at the base. Before 

 expansion the anthers are incurved, and have their apices 

 inserted into the cells formed between the calyx and ova- 

 rium. Style ascending, as long as the short sttimina. Stigma 

 simple, recurved. Fruit within the calyx, and adhering to 

 it by the above-mentioned septa, four-celled, many-seeded. 

 ^ Obs. 



