i2 Dr. Jack on the Malayan Species of Melastoma. 



number of the cells corresponding with the divisions of the 

 flower; in the peculiar inflexion of the anthers before expansion; 

 and in having polyspermous berries. The points of difference 

 to be principally attended to are the following : the similarity or 

 dissimilarity of the alternate anthers ; the number of the sta- 

 mina ; the anthers being with or without beaks, straight or ar- 

 cuate ; the calyces being hispid or nearly smooth, and having 

 deciduous or persistent segments ; the ovary being partially or 

 completely adnate to the calyx. Of these characters, the only 

 one which appears to me to point to a natural division of the 

 species is that of the equality or inequality of the stamina, 

 occasioned by the anthers being alternately pedicellate and ses- 

 sile on the filaments, as in Melastoma Malabathrica, or being all 

 sessile, as in M. exigua and others here described. Those of the 

 first division, with unequal stamina, have generally large and 

 beautiful flowers, hispid calyces, with frequently deciduous seg- 

 ments, stamina always double the number of petals, which are 

 either five or four, and arcuate rostrate anthers which, before 

 the expansion of the flower, have their beaks lodged in cells 

 betwixt the calyx and ovary. Those of the second division, 

 with equal stamina, have seldom such conspicuous flowers, have 

 smoother calyces, with segments generally persistent, eight sta- 

 mina, rarely or never ten, and occasionally only four ; anthers 

 sometimes neither arcuate nor rostrate, and their points in that 

 case do not reach before expansion below the summit of the 

 ovary, which is then completely adnate to the calyx. The genus 

 Maieta of Ventenat has been founded upon this latter character 

 alone ; but it is obviously insufiicient for a generic distinction, 

 as it can only be considered secondary to that of the relative 

 length of the anthers, on which depends the complete or partial 

 adhesion of the calyx and ovary : and a little attention to the 

 relations of the different species to each other will show, that a 



division 



