CLASS IV. 



TETRANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 



RHOPALA. Schreb. gen. N. 144. 



Calyx none. Corol four-petalled, bearing the stamina 

 above the middle. Nectary four-scaled. Germ one-celled ; 

 ovula two, attached to one side of the cell. 



1. R. moluccana. Brown. Linn. Trans, x. p. 191. 



Leaves alternate, sub-sessile, oblong, entire, racemes axil- 

 lary, and from the branchlets, longer than the leaves. Nec- 

 tarial scales naked. 



A native of Pulo Pinang. 



As my description is taken from dry specimens I cannot 

 say whether it be a tree or shrub, but the large woody speci- 

 mens evidently show it to be perennial. Leaves short-petiol- 

 ed, alternate, obovate, oblong, obtuse-pointed, entire and 

 smooth on both sides, six or more inches long and less than 

 three broad. Stipules none. Racemes generally solitary, 

 from the naked woody branchlets below the leaves, very 

 long and completely clothed to the base with numerous 

 beautiful, diverging, pretty large, delicate flowers. Bractes 

 minute. Calyx none. Petals four, very long and slender, 

 near the apex they expand into a concave lanceolate shape 

 for the reception of the stamens ; they first open in the middle 

 then at the apex, and soon after become re volute. Nectary, 

 four scales embracing the lower part of the germ. Filaments 

 four, short, inserted into the petals above the middle. An- 

 thers linear, curved in an opposite direction to the petals. 

 Germ above, ovate, style long and slender. Stigma clubbed. 



