6t Dr. Jack on the Malayan Species of Melastoma. 



4. Melastoma decemfida. Roxh. 



M. decandra, floribus subsolitariis terminalibus, foliis quinque- 

 nerviis, calyce decemfido setis moUibus porrectis echinato. 

 Roxh. Cat. Hort. Beng. p. 90. 

 Native of Pulo Penang. 



A large shrub. Branches round, beset with scattered strigose 

 scales. Leaves opposite, petiolate, ovate-lanceolate, acute 

 and attenuated to the point, nearly entire, sometimes spi- 

 nulose on the margin, five-nerved, with some scattered ap- 

 pressed hairs on both surfaces. Petioles, as well as the 

 nerves of the under surface, covered with appressed strigae, 

 channelled above, and ciliate with long hairs along the 

 margins. Flowers very large, nearly solitary, terminal, 

 short-peduncled. Calyx ovate, densely covered, as well as 

 the peduncle, with long erect soft spine-like bristles, ten- 

 cleft: lacinicB long, subulate, the alternate ones shorter. 

 Petals five, large, red, spreading. Stamina ten, arcuate, 

 rostrate ; five larger, with pedicellate anthers, appendicu- 

 late at the base. They are lodged in the cells between the 

 calyx and ovary before expansion, as in other species. 

 Style filiform. Fruit five-celled, many-seeded. 



Obs. This species has considerable resemblance to the M. Ma- 

 labathrica, but has larger finer flowers. 



5. Melastoma stellulata. W. J. 



M. octandra, pedunculis axillaribus 1 — 5-floris, calycibus seto- 

 sis, setis erectis spinescentibus apice stellato-multifidis, 

 foliis oblongo-ovatis trinerviis subtus tomentosis. 



Daduruh Akkar. Malay. 



West Coast of Sumatra. 



A shrub 



