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558 CHAMEZLAUCIACEA. —BELVISIACEA.— MELASTOMACE. 
the eestivation of the calyx in the two orders; thus im that of. 
Myrtacez it is valvate, while in Barringtoniacee it is imbricate. 
Distribution and Numbers.—Natives of tropical regions in 
all parts of the world. Illustrative Genera :— Barrington‘a, 
Forsk. ; Gustavia, Linn. 
Properties and Uses.—The bark of Stravadium racemosum is 
reputed to be febrifugal, and the root bitter, aperient, and acrid. 
The fruit of Careya arborea is eaten, while that of Gustavia 
brusiliana is emetic, and produces an intoxicating effect upon 
fish. Generally the plants of the order should be regarded as 
somewhat dangerous. 
Order 6. CHAMALAUCIACEX, the Fringe-myrtle Order.— 
Diagnosis.—This is a small order of shrubby plants with ever- 
green dotted leaves, and nearly allied to Myrtacez, but dis- 
tinguished from them by their Heath-like aspect, their more 
or less fringed scaly or bristly calyx-tube, and by their 1-celled 
ovary. From Lecythidaceze they are at once known by their 
habit, their dotted exstipulate leaves, and 1-celled ovary. 
Distribution and Numbers.—Exclusively natives of Australia. 
Illustrative Genera:—Chameelaucium, Desf. ; Darwinia, Rudg. 
There are above 50 species. 
Properties and Uses.—Unknown. 
Order 7. BELVISIACES, the Belvisia Order.—Character.— 
Shrubs. Leaves alternate, exstipulate, with a leathery texture. 
Calyx superior, coriaceous, 5-partite, with a valvate sestiva- 
tion. Corolla ccnsisting of three distinct whorls of united petals. 
Stamens 20, somewhat polyadelphous. Disk fleshy, and forming 
a cup-shaped expansion over the ovary. Ovary 5-celled, with 
two ovules in each cell; placentas axile; style 5-angled or 5- 
winged ; stigma flat, pentagonal. Fruit a soft rounded berry 
crowned by the calyx. Seeds large, kidney-shaped, exalbuminous. 
Distribution and Numbers.—Natives of tropical Africa and 
Brazil. Illustrative Genera :— Asteranthos, Desf. ; Napoleona, 
Palis. These are the only genera; they include 4 species. 
Properties and Uses.—Nothing is known of the uses of these 
plants except that the pulp of their fruits is edible, and the 
pericarp contains much tannic acid. They might, therefore, 
probably be used as astringents. 
Order 8. MrELASTOMACE, the Melastoma Order.—Charac- 
ter. —Trees, shrubs, or herbs. Leaves opposite, and almost always 
with several large curved ribs, and dotless. Flowers showy. 
Calyx 4- 5- or 6-lobed, more or less adherent to the ovary, im- 
bricate. Petals equal in number to the divisions of the calyx, 
twisted in estivation. Stamens equal in number to, or twice as 
many as, the petals ; filaments curved downwards in eestivation ; | 
anthers long, 2-celled, curiously beaked, usually dehiscing by 
two pores at the apex, or sometimes longitudinally ; in estiva- 
a . 
