4 Dr. Jack o;» the Malayan Species of Melastoma. 



Obs. The flat bristles or scales of the calyx are remarkably long 

 in this species ; its limb, after the fall of the segments, is 

 acutely five-angled, and the scales that rise from these an- 

 gles are so long as almost to appear like lesser laciniai 

 alternating with the true ones. 



2. Melastoma Malabatiirica. Linn. 

 Tab. I. Fig. 1. a—g. 



M. decandra, foliis elliptico-lanceolatis quinquenerviis scabris, 

 pilis brevibus appressis, floribus 7 — H opposite corymbo- 

 sis, bracteis ovatis deciduis calyce minoribus, calycibus 

 squamosis, laciniis deciduis. 



Kadali. Rheed Malah. iv. p. 87- t. 42. 



Fragarius niger. Rumph. Amb. iv. p. 137- t. 72. 



Sikadudu. Malay. 



Abundant throughout Sumatra and the Malay islands, and 

 chiefly occupying open waste lands or coppices. 



In giving the above character of this well known species, I 

 have been obliged to add to the usual specific phrase, in order to 

 distinguish it from the preceding, to which it has so much re- 

 semblance that they might easily be confounded together. The 

 leaves of this are longer and less hairy, and the scales of the 

 calyx are much shorter and more appressed than in M. obvoluta. 

 The principal distinction however is in the inflorescence, the 

 flowers in this being numerous, generally from seven to eleven, 

 in a kind of corymbose panicle, and the bracts small ; while in 

 the preceding the number of the flowers seldom exceeds three, 

 and each is invested by two large bracts, which entirely inclose 

 the calyx, and do not fall off till the petals are fallen. The two 

 following species have also considerable resemblance to the pre- 

 sent, 



