260 ocTANDRiA MONOGYNiA. Memecyloti, 



MEMECYLON. 

 Calyx four-toothed. Carols four-petalled. Nectary four 

 glands, inserted just over the stamina, in the fissure of 

 the calyx. Berry inferior, one-seeded. 



1. M. edule. R. Corom. pi. 1. N. 82. 



Shrubby. Leaves opposite, oval, smooth. Umbellets from 

 the naked branches, and stems below the leaves. 



Comus sylvestris. Burm Zeyl. p. 76. t. 31. 



Teling. Alie. 



The leaves are an ingredient in the dyes of Coroman- 

 del. I therefore suspect M. tinctorium of Willdenow 

 may be the same plant. 



A very common, small tree, or large shrub ; it is to be 

 found in every jungle all over the coast. It flowers about 

 the beginning of the hot season. 



Trunk very irregular in shape and size, covered with 

 a dark coloured, scabrous bark. Branches numerous, 

 nearly erect. Leaves opposite, short-petioled, oval, 

 smooth, shining, firm, entire, with scarcely any veins, from 

 three to four inches long, and from two to three broad. 

 Umbellets many, compound, small, from scabrous eleva- 

 tions, wher^ the leaves stood, over the old woody 

 branches. Peduncles common, and partial, four-sided. 

 Pedicels round, coloured. The generic character as in 

 Richard's edition of the Genera Plantarum. Seeds, seldom 

 more than one comes to perfection, though in the germ 

 the rudiments of many are to be seen. 



The ripe berries are eaten by the natives; they are 

 astringent ; the pulp is of a bluish black colour, and is 

 found in considerable quantity. 



2. M. amplexicauUs. R. 



Leaves opposite, half stem-clasping, ovate-cordate. 

 Flowers in sessile, axillary heads. 



