IV.] MELASTOMA. 33 



sepals, but if the flower be cut vertically from below upwards 

 through the middle, you will observe that the five apparent 

 sepals are inserted upon the margin of a flask-shaped cavity, 

 upon the inner surface of which several carpels are borne. 

 This cavity is usually regarded as the tube of the calyx, of 

 which the five lobes surrounding it constitute the livib^ and 

 indicate, at the same time, the number of sepals composing 

 the calyx. Five equal petals and numerous stamens are in- 

 serted in the mouth of the tube, and lower down in the tubt 

 are the numerous distinct carpels composing the pistil of 

 the flower, with their styles closely crowded together in tht 

 narrow throat of the calyx-tube. The corolla and stamens 

 being inserted upon the calyx and not upon the floral 

 receptacle immediately below the pistil, as in the flowers 

 just examined, they are said to be perigynous. Carefully 

 note that the carpels are wholly free from the tube of the 

 calyx, although the latter rises nearly, or quite, to the level 

 of the stigmas. Describe the Rose as with — 



Calyx inferior^ gamosepalous. 



CotoWb, perigynous, polypetalous, and regular. 



Stamens perigynous, indefinite. 



Pistil apocarpous, ovaries superior. 



5. Melastoma Malabathricum. — The calyx is com- 

 posed of five cohering sepals, as indicated by the five lobes 

 of its limb. Five equal and distinct petals and ten curious 

 stamens are inserted upon the calyx. Five of the stamens 

 are alternate with the petals, and five are opposite to them. 

 A transverse section of an ovary will show that the pistil is 

 syncarpous, consisting of five carpels, as indicated by the 

 five cells of the ovaiy. The style is undivided. If a flower 

 be cut through vertically, you will observe that the ovary 

 adheres at intervals to the calyx-tube, leaving pocket like 



D 



