HELASTOaiACE^. (melASTOMA FAMILY.) 131 



* Flowers in axillary q/mcs. 



1. E. diehotoma, DC. Leaves oblong-obovatc, obtuse or cmnrpinate, 

 rigid, and, like the branches, roughened with appressed liairs, at Icngtli smooth- 

 ish, tlic margins rcvolutc ; peduncles twice as long as the leaves, 3 -"-(lowered, 

 the central flowers sessile ; calyx-tube obconical, 2-bractcd, downy and hoary. 

 the lobes roundish, spreading ; petals orbicular, ciliate ; stamens numerous. — 

 South Florida. — A small tree. Leaves 1' long. Branches compressed. 



* * Flowers solilarij or vmhellate. 



2. E. procera, Poir. Smooth; leaves ovate, tapering but oI)tusc at tlie 

 apex, abruptly contracted at the base into a short petiole ; peduncles solitaiy or 

 2-4 togetlier, filiform, not half the length of the leaves, 1 -flowered; calyx-tube 

 hemispherical; petals orbicular, ciliate ; beny globose, 1-secdcd. — South Flor- 

 ida. May. — A small tree. Leaves U'-2' long. Flowers conspicuous, white 

 and fragrant. Berry as large as a grain of pepper. 



* * * Floicei's minute, in very short cluster-like racemes. 



3. E. monticola, DC. Smooth; leaves coriaceous, ovate-oblong, some- 

 what tapering towards the apex, but obtuse or cmarginate, contracted at the base 

 into a distinct petiole ; racemes clustered, several-flowered, shorter than the peti- 

 ole ; stamens numerous ; berry globose. — South Florida. — Shrub 4° - G° high. 

 Brandies compressed. Leaves 2' long. Flowers white. Bcmes abundant, as 

 large as a grain of pepper, black. 



4. E. buxifolia, Willd. ? Leaves smooth, coriaceous, obovatc-oblong, 

 rounded Jit the apex, short-petioled ; racemes single or clustered, few-flowered, 

 about as long as the petiole ; flowers minute ; stamens few (9 - 1 2) or numerous ; 

 berry 1 - 3-seeded. — South Florida. — Varies much in the size of the leaves and 

 berries, length of the petiole, and number of stamens, and probably includes two 

 or more species. 



2. CALYPTRANTHES, Swartz. 



Calyx-tube obovate ; the limb entire, opening across like a lid, deciduous. 

 Petals none. Stamens numerous. Ovary 2-3-ceUed, with 2 ovules in each 

 cell. BeiTV 1-celled, 1-4-seeded. Seeds roundish: testa smooth. Embryo 

 curved ; the long .nnd slender radicle coiled around the distinct unequal folded 

 and contorted cotyledons. — Shnxbs or trees. Peduncles axillary, many-flow- 

 ered. 



1. C. Chytraculia, Swartz. Leaves ovate and ovate-lanceolate, acumi- 

 nate but obtuse, pubescent, becoming smooth above ; peduncles longer than the 

 leaves, cymo«e-!);iniclod, tomcntose ; flowers minute; berry dry, globose, 1-2- 

 ceedcd. — South Florida. — A small tree. 



Order 51. MELASTOMACE^. (Melastoma Family.) 



Herbs, shrubs, or trees, with opposite 3 - 9-ribbe(l leaves, -witbout dots 

 or stipules, and showy flowers. — Calyx urn-shaped, 4 - G-Iobed, persistent, 



