CALYCIFLOILE. 263 



ALANGIACEJE are a small Order of exotic plants, timber-trees, or shrubs, 

 allied to Combretacese, but having perispermic seeds with large leafy 

 cotyledons, and there are differences in the corolla and stamens. Lindley 

 considers the plants related in some degree to Myrtaceee, Melastomaceae, 

 and Onagraceae, but, with Endlicher, thinks that, after Combretaceae, their 

 nearest relatives are probably Cornaceae and Hamamelidaceae ; Bentham 

 and Hooker group them with Cornaceae. The succulent fruits are edible, 

 but the plants on the whole are of little importance. Genera: Alan- 

 yium } L. ; Marlea, Hoxb. ; Nyssa, Gronov., &c. 



MELASTOMACEAE. 



Coll. Myrtales, Benth. et Hook. 



Diagnosis. Myrtle-like plants, with opposite curved-ribbed leaves, 

 showy flowers, definite stamens with remarkable appendaged anthers, 

 bursting by pores at the apex. Seeds very numerous, minute, aperi- 

 spermic. Illustrative Genera : Centradenia, Don ; Melastoma, L. ; Rhexia, 

 Nutt. ; Medinilla, Gaudich. ; Miconia, DC. ; Mouriria, Juss. 



Affinities, &c. A large proportion of these plants are distinguishable at 

 first sight by the several large curved ribs running from the base to the 

 apex of the leaves ; but this character does not hold in Memecylon or in 

 Mouriria. In Memecylea, also, the usually flat cotyledons are convoluted, 

 as in Combretacese and exceptional Myrtaceoe ; Mouriria has the ribs of 

 the leaves inconspicuous. The most striking character of the flower lies 

 in the stamens with their oddly beaked anthers. But the Order differs 

 from the Myrtaceae also in the contorted aestivation of the corolla. 

 On the other hand, they are allied to the Lagerstrcemiece among the 

 Lythraceae, from which, however, the imbricate or twisted aestivation 

 of the calyx and the characters above noted sufficiently distinguish 

 them. The characters by which the genera are distinguished are the 

 capsular or baccate fruit, the position of the placentas, and the peculiar 

 form of the stamens. 



Distribution. A large Order, the species of which are generally diffused 

 within the tropics a few also in North America, China, Australia, and 

 N. India. 



Qualities and Uses. The members of this large Order seem to be 

 harmless ; and the prevailing character is slight astringency. Many yield 

 edible succulent fruits ; the name of Melastoma is derived from the fruit 

 staining the mouth black. The most striking peculiarities about the 

 Order are the beauty of the flowers and the curious ribbed appear- 

 ance of the foliage. A large number of species are cultivated in this 

 country, some as ornamental-foliage plants, others for the sake of their 

 flowers. 



ONAG-EACE^E. THE EVENING-PRIMROSE ORDER. 



Coh. Myrtales, Senth. et Hook. 



Diagnosis. Herbs or shrubs, with 4-merous (sometimes 2-3-merous) 

 flowers; the tube of the calyx (of the receptacle) adhering to the 



