61 



from the same point as the petals, and twice or thrice their nnmher ; Jilatnents distinct; 

 anthers erect, innate. Oi^arinm 2-celled, each cell cofttaining 2 or more pendulotis ovules. 

 Fruit indehiscent, crowned by the calyx, l-celled, 1-seeded. Seed pendulous, without al- 

 bumen ; radicle long ; cotyledons 2, flat. — Coast trees or shrubs. Leaves simple, opposite, 

 entire or toothed, with stipules between the petioles. Peduncles axillary. 



AiriNiTiES. From a consideration of the structure of Carallia and 

 Legnotis, Mr. Brown has been led to conclude that we have a series of 

 structures connecting Rhizophora, on the one hand, with certain genera 

 of Salicariee, particularly with Antherylium, though that genus wants the 

 intermediate stipules; and, on the other, with Cunoniaceoe, especially with 

 the simple-leaved species of Ceratopetalum. Congo, 437. This order agrees 

 with Cunoniacece in its opposite leaves and intermediate stipulae, and with 

 great part of them in the a?stivation of its calyx, and in the structure and 

 cohesion of ovarium. R. Broivn, Flinders, 549. Decandolle points jout its 

 relation to Vochyacea? and Combretacese, and even to Memecyleae through 

 the genus Olisbea. The genera were comprehended in Loranthea; by 

 Jussieu. Cassipouna, mentioned as an anomalous plant, is probably the 

 type of a distinct order. 



Geography. Natives of the shores of the tropics, where they root in 

 the mud, and form a dense thicket down to the verge of the ocean. 



Propeuties. The bark is usually astringent; that of Rhizophora 

 gymnorhiza is used in India for dyeing black. Dec. 



Examples. Rhizophora, Bruguiera. 



LIV. MELASTOMACEiE. 



Melastom^, Jzm. Gere. p. 328. (1789); Diet. Se. Nat. 29. 507. (1823),_fllELASTO- 

 MACE^, Don in Mem. Wern. Soc. 4. 281. (1823); Dec. Prodr. 3.99. (1828); 

 Mimoire (1828). 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with definite perigynous sta- 

 mens, concrete carpella, an inferior ovarium of several cells, long inflexed 

 anthers, indefinite seeds, and opposite ribbed leaves without dots. 



Anomalies. Traces of pellucid dots in Diplogenea. Ovarium more 

 or less superior in several. Leaves sometimes not ribbed in Sonerila. 



Essential Character Calyx divided into 4, 5, or G lobes, cohering more or less 



with the angles of the ovarium, but distinct from the surface between the angles, and thus 

 forming a number of cavities, within which the young anthers are curved downwards. 

 Petals equal to the segments of the calyx, arising from their base, or from the edge of a 

 disk that lines the calyx; twisted in a;stivation. Stamens usually twice as many as the 

 petals, sometimes equal to them in number ; in the former case, those which are opposite 

 the segments of the calyx are alone fertile ; filaments curved downwards in sestivation ; 

 anthers long, 2-celled, usually bursting by two pores at the apex, which is rostrate, and 

 elongated in various ways beyond the insertion of the filament ; sometimes bursting longi- 

 tudinally; before flowering, contained within the cases between the ovarium and sides of 

 the calyx. Ovarium more or less coherent with the calyx, with several cells, and indefinite 

 ovules ; style 1 ; stigma simple, either capitate or minute ; a cup often present upon the 

 apex of the ovarium, surrounding the style. Pericarpium either dry and distinct from 

 the calyx, or succulent and combined with the calyx, with several cells ; if dehiscent, burst- 

 ing through the valves, which therefore bear the septa in the middle ; placentce attached 

 to a cantral column. Seeds innumerable, minute, with a brittle testa, and no albumen ; 

 usually with appendages of some kind ; embryo straight, or curved, with equal or unequal 



cotyledons Trees, shrubs, or herbaceous plants. Leaves opposite, undivided, usually 



entire, without dots, with several ribs. Flotvers terminal, usually thyrsoid. 



Affinities. " The family of Melastomacea^," remarks M. Decandolle, 

 in an excellent memoir upon the subject, " although composed entirely of 

 exotic plants, and established at a period when but few species were known, 



