BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 45 



Oshechia, Melastoma, Otanthera, and Memecylon. One species 

 of Osheckia common in Malaysia extends to Australia. The 

 Australian Otanthera is wide-spread in the Indian Archipelago, 

 and Memecylon umhellatum was also recognised in the Peninsula. 

 Melastoma is the only species of the order which extends outside 

 the tropics in Australia. 



The useful properties of this order are few. They are generally 

 astringent, and one or two produce edible fruits. Black and 

 yellow dyes are extracted from the berries of American and 

 Malaysian species. The leaves of Melastoma malahathrica are 

 said to be efficacious in dysentery. Astronia papetaria is a Malayan 

 species with sub-acid leaves, and is cooked with hsh. It is called 

 Obat papeda. 



Most of them have showy blossoms of pink and violet tints, 

 which are a great embellishment to the vegetation of Malaysia. 

 Some species of Medinilla are climbers and cover the trees 

 with a profusion of scarlet blossoms, while the stalks of the 

 whole raceme are a brilliant coral red, carmine or pink. See 

 Curtis's "Botanical Magazine," where there are beautiful figures of 

 M. speciosa, M. magnifica, M. javanensis, M. cu7'tisii, M. amahilis, 

 and some others. 



Palms. — This natural order in Malaysia requires a special essay 

 to itself to do it justice. The whole scenery of the Malayan 

 region is modified and characterised by its palms. It is usually 

 a fringe of Cocoa-nut Palms which lines the coast. Even where 

 the Mangroves form a soft green margin, the Cocoa-nuts project 

 their feathery heads above the line of trees and give a tropical 

 character to the scene. Cocoa-nut Palms are soon discovered to 

 be everywhere. They liue the coast, they crowd the valleys, 

 they shade the sand-hills, and they form the borders of both the 

 roads and the garden enclosures. There are plantations of this 

 palm besides, near the towns, where nothing else grows by its side 

 except the Betel Palm. And this also grows evei7 where. It is 

 iust as well that it is so, for the Cocoa-nut Palm is apt to become 



