213 



ul)loiig-obov()i(l or cluh-sliaiJi'd. Braiu-lics gray or l)rownis!i. tcrc'tt', tlu' 

 branchlets sliarjily 4-anok'(l. lA'aves 4.5 to U em. long, 1 to 1.5 cm. wide, 

 shining above, ])aler and dull beneatli, narrowed above to the acute or 

 blunt apex and below to the nari'OAv acute base, the margins somewliat 

 I'ccurved ; ])rimary nerves about 10 on each side of the midrib, distant, 

 irregular, spreading, not prominent, anastomosing and forming a mar- 

 ginal nerve, the reticulations evident, netted; petioles 2 to 4 mm. long. 

 Flowers usually in groups of threes at the tips of the branchlets of the 

 inflorescence, the lo\\-er branches sometimes 3 to 4 cm. long, the flowers 

 including the stamens 10 to 12 mm. long, narrow, the buds about S mm. 

 long. Calyx truncate about 4 mm. in diameter at the mouth, cup-shaped, 

 narrowed below into a 4 to 5 mm. long pseudostalk, glabrous. Petals 4. 

 free, orbicular, 2.5 to '.] mm. in diameter, caducous. Stamens indefinite; 

 filaments about 4 m\\\. long; anthers 0.3 mm. long. Fruit ol)long-ovoid 

 to ellipsoid, glabrous, dark purjile when mature, about 1 cm. long, T to 

 S mm. thick, croA\aied by the persistent calyx rim, with a single large seed, 

 the pericarp thin, crustaceous when dry. 



Luzox, Province of Rizal, Montalban (5034 Merrill) Mavch S. 1900; (34.31 

 Ahern's collector) November, 1905. 



A shrub growing on cliffs and boulders along the river at an altitude of about 

 40 m., associated with and similating in habit Atalantia linearis (Blanco) ^lerr. 

 Like Atalantia linearis and Homonoya riparia. this species is often found on 

 ledges and boulders subject to overflow in times of liigh water, and like tlie 

 former species is abundant along the river at ]Montall)an in the limestone region, 

 but is fouiul only immediately bordering the stream. So close is the resemblance 

 in habit and leaf characters between this species and Atalantia linearis that 

 Ahern's collector, Ramos, brought in both under one number as being the same 

 species. 



MELASTOMATACE.E. 



ASTRONIA Blume. 



Astronia lagunensis .Merrill sp. nov. 



A shrub 4 to (i ni. liigh, nearly glal)rous tliroughout exce|it the in- 

 florescence, with oblong-elliptical, acuminate^ 7-nerved leaves, and fur- 

 furaceous inflorescence, the orl)icular petals about 5 mm. in diameter. 

 Branches rather stout, oljscurelv 4-angled, brown, glabrous. Leaves 

 subcoriaceous. glabrous and gi'een on l)oth surfaces, not furfuraceous, 

 14 to IS cm. long, 4 to 8 em. wide, equally narrowed below to the acute 

 base and above to the acuminate apex, the transverse nerves nuuu'i'ous. 

 prominent beneath; ])etioles stout, 3 to fi cm. long, when young sliglitly 

 furfuraceous. becoming quite glabrous. Panicles pyramidal, 5 t(^ T cm. 

 long, 5 to (S cm. wide below, the axis and opposite branches l)rown fur- 

 furaceous, the lowei- l)ranches spreading, 4 cm. long or less, the upper 

 ones gradually sliortei-. Flowers yellowisli Avhite and red. Calyx broadly 

 funnel-sha])ed, about 4 mm. long, 5 to (> mm. in diametei' al)i)\e, slightly 

 furfuraceous, with 5 broad acute teeth less than 1 mm. loni:'. Petals 5, 



