Order $ I . Melastomacece. 117 



1. OSBECKJA. Stamens with a connective, ovary inferior, 

 capsule opening at the top, seeds much curved. 



2. MBLASTOMA. Shrubs, stamens very unequal, the alternate 

 ones with a long connective, fruit bursting irregularly, seeds 

 much curved. 



3. MEMECYLON. Shrubs or trees with opposite leaves, calyx 

 campanulate, entire or shortly 4-lobed, petals 4, berry one- 

 seeded, crowned with the margin of the calyx, seed large. 



1. OSBECKIA. 



0. truncata (0. leschenaultii, D.). A small erect plant, all 

 hairy except the petals, stems square, leaves oval, prominently 

 3-nerved, flowers in small terminal heads, nearly sessile, pink 

 or purple, the petals cruciate, calyx and apex of the ovary 

 bristly, capsule very small ovoid. 

 Dapoli. The Konkan (D.). Throughout the Deccan peninsula (#.) 



2. MELASTOMA. 



M. malabathricum. A very handsome low shrub, leaves 

 broad lanceolate, very bright green, strongly ribbed, more or 

 less rough, petioles very hairy, flowers very large, rose-coloured, 

 3 to 5 together, almost sessile, fruit small, round. Sarkoli, 

 Idkheri, pdlore. 



S. Konkan, generally near water; S.M. country. On the Ghauts 

 it grows to 6 feet, but is not then so handsome as when dwarf. 

 ''Indian rhododendron" of the English (H.). 



The strongly-ribbed leaves and handsome flowers with large 

 curved connective to some of the stamens well distinguish this plant, 

 which ought to be cultivated. 



3. MEMECYLON. 



M. amplexicaule. An erect shrub with long, smooth, 

 leathery leaves, cordate and stem clasping ; flowers in fascicles 

 or very short-stalked umbels from the branches, pedicels and 

 calyx reddish, petals bright blue, larger than in the next, fruit 

 a berry, crowned with the nearly entire calyx. 



Not in D. or G. Penang ; and a var. in the Nilgherries (H.). I 

 had it on the tank at Dhamapor, S. Konkan, a lovely spot, and a fine 

 hunting ground for botanists ; 



" Where the fair trees look over, side by side, 

 And see themselves below." Longfellow. 



The shrub is well worth looking for. 



