TRANS ACT I ON S 



■i.-t 



OF , 



THE LINNEAN SOCIETY. 



I, On the Malayan Species of Melastoma. By William Jack, M. D. 

 Communicated by Robert Brown, Esq. F.R.S. and L.S. 



Read April 16, 1822. 



The East Indian species of Melastoma have been little inves- 

 tigated in their native soil ; and the few that are mentioned in 

 botanical works have for the most part been so imperfectly de- 

 scribed as to occasion much confusion. This splendid genus 

 has now become so extensive as to require being subdivided ; 

 but to do this with due regard to the natural series, and to the 

 relative importance of the characters, would demand a critical 

 examination of the whole, and ampler means of reference than 

 are accessible in India. I shall therefore confine myself to such 

 observations as have been suggested by the Malayan species 

 which I have had an opportunity of examining. The whole of 

 these have baccate fruit, and are therefore true Melastomce, as 

 that genus is at present constituted. They vary much in the 

 number of their stamina, but that number is constant in each 

 species. They all agree in having the ovula attached to pla- 

 centae, which project from the inner angle of the cells ; in the 

 VOL. XIV. B number 



