Memecylon.] lvii. MELASTOMACEiE. (hooker.) 461 



minute, at the base of the pedicel or under the flower. Berry small, 

 black blue or purple. 



A very large Asiatic, African, and especially Mauritian genus. 

 Leaves distinctly 3 nerved. 



Inflorescence of sub-corymbose panicles. 



Bracteoles fascicled or whorled at the bases of the pedicels. 



Leaves 5-7 in. by 2-4 in. Panicle often terminal . . 1. M. cceruleum. 

 Leaves 3-4 in. by 1-2 in. Panicles axillary ... 2. M. Mannii. 

 Bracteoles 2, opposite at the base of the calyx. 



Leaves coriaceous, 2 lateral nerves not arching ... 3. M. Barteri. 

 Leaves membranous, 2 lateral nerves arching . . . 4. M. Vogelii. 

 Inflorescence capitate on very short axillary peduncles. 



Leaves membranous 5. M.membranifolium. 



Leaves coriaceous . 6. M. fascicular x. 



Leaves penninerved. , 



Inflorescence capitate 7. M. virescens. 



Inflorescence panicled 8. M. polyanthemos. 



Inflorescence of peduncled fascicles 9. M. Donianum. 



1. M. caeruleum, Guill. et Perr. Fl. Seneg. 113, t. 71 (Spathandra). 

 A large tree, trunk as thick as the thigh; branches densely leafy, 

 stout; branchlets terete. Leaves 5-7 in. by 2J-4 in., sessile, thickly 

 coriaceous, brown or black when dry, broadly oblong- or ovate-oblong 

 or ovate-lanceolate, obtuse, acute or acuminate, base rounded or cordate, 

 very opaque on both surfaces, ribs strong beneath, lateral nerves indis- 

 tinct. Panicles terminal and axillary, corymbose, spreading, sometimes 

 4 in. in diameter, repeatedly umbellately branched ; peduncles and 

 branches strict, compressed and angled, hoary; pedicels |-£in., 3-nate 

 or umbelled ; bracts whorled at the base of the pedicels, minute, ovate, 

 subacute. 'Calyx | in. in diameter, broadly turbinate, limb obscurely 

 4-toothed, 8-ribbed within. Petals broadly ovate, tips valvate. Ovules 

 8. Berry globose, J in. in diameter, 1-2-seeded, flesh thin, testa crus- 

 taceous ; cotyledons fleshy. — Naud. in. Ann. Sc. Nat. ser. 3, xviii. 263. 



Upper Guinea. Sierra Leone, Afzelius I Don I Vogel ! Whitfield. Senegambia, 

 Perrottet ! Heudelotl Bagroo river, Mann! 



Var. /3; leaves lucid, almost polished above. — Upper Guinea, Kongui river, Mann! 

 fl. Sept. 



2. M. Mannii, Hook.f. Shrubby; branches dark red-brown, as thick 

 as a crowquill; branchlets terete. Leaves 3-4 in. by 1-2 in., thickly 

 coriaceous, opaque, elliptic-ovate or oblong from a rounded base, sub- 

 acute, similar and pale brown when dry on both surfaces, nerves 3, 

 obscure on both surfaces, lateral nerves wholly obscured. Panicles 

 axillary, spreading, corymbose, 2-3 in. in diameter, repeatedly umbel- 

 lately branched, branches and peduncles strict, slender, terete, hoarv ; 

 pedicels slender, 3-nate or umbelled ; bracts at the bases of the pedicels 

 minute, ovate, subacute. Calyx 1— 12th in. in diameter, campanu- 

 late ; limb 4-toothed ; 8-costate inside. Petals triangular-ovate, tips 

 valvate. Ovules 4-6. , Berry \ in. in diameter, globose, flesh thin, 

 testa crustaceous, cotyledons crumpled. 



Upper Guinea. Gaboon river, fl. July, Mann! 



Muclrsnialler than M. cceruleum, with the nerves of the leaves very obscure. 



