286 SCHOMBURGK’S GUIANA PLANTS. 
Salsola Láná, (mihi). 
Frutescens ramosissima, foliis breviter petiolatis cylindraceis vel ovatis 
rectis vel falcatis acutiusculis vel obtusis, floribus 3—4 glomerulatis axil- 
laribus sessilibus, sepalis 5 concavis rubris, stamina iis opposita tegentibus, i 
filam. 5 brevibus, antheris viridibus, stylis 2—3—4-brevibus rectis ye 
ovario unico. 
Fructum maturum non vidi.— Malwá et Peut 
XVII.—Contributionstowardsa Flora f South America. — Ent- ; 
meration of Plants collected by Mr SCHOMBURGK in British 
Guiana.—By Greorce BENTHAM, Esg., F.L.S., &c. &c- : 
[Continued from page 223 of this Vol. 
MELASTOMACEZ. 
De Canpotte’s subdivision of Melastomacee into a darge 
number of genera has been generally adopted, although 
various modifications of detail have been proposed by Blume, 
Martius, Chamisso, and others; and any monographist who. 
with the vast materials now existing in herbaria, may again 
take up the Order, will probably follow the steps of De Can- 
dolle as to the leading features of his system, however much 3 
he may improve on particular portions. I am far from. 
entering upon any such general investigation ; but in the 
course of the determination of M. Schomburgk's collection, 
a few observations have occurred to me as to the relative im- 
portance of some of the characters used, and as to the p! 
minent diagnostics of some of the genera, which I am induced 
to record here, in the hope that they may tend to facilitat 
the determination of South American collections. — — 
The exception to the usual dehiscence of the anthers; 
which has given rise to the separation of a distinct Suborde 
under the name of Charianthee, is certainly very remarkable 
: but appears scarcely to be sufficiently natural to justify 
tu ince attached to it. The genera bear, indeed, most 
» more resemblance to corresponding genera am 
than to each other, and it may be better ther 
vendit xem the Chärianthee as merely 
