568 GAEDEN PLANTS. PART II. 



MELASTOMACE^E. 



Centradenia. 



C. floribunda. A small herbaceous pot-plant, native of Mexico, 

 with dark-red stems and narrow lanceolate leaves, from an inch 

 to an inch-and-a-half long ; bears from February to March a 

 profusion of small rose-coloured flowers, at which time it is a 

 tolerably pretty object, resembling one of the annuals in bloom. 

 Cuttings strike easily. 



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 Arthrostemma. 



A. lineatum. A pot-plant, native of Peru, with elliptical rough 

 leaves, one to two inches long : in my opinion of no great merit, 

 though considered choice by some ; bears in the Cold season, 

 rather profusely, largish heads of dingy-white fiWers of mo- 

 derate size. Propagated by removal of suckers. 



Pleroma. 



P, trinervia. A choice and delicate pot-plant, of woody habit, 

 but of small growth ; very ornamental if only for its rich-green 

 peculiar foliage ; bears during the Hot months handsome pale- 

 purple flowers, of moderate size. Propagated by cuttings under 

 glass. 



Melastoma. 



1. M. Malabathricum. A small shrub, similar in character to 

 the last, but of larger habit, and loose and untidy in its mode of 

 growth ; a rather delicate plant, requires to be grown in a pot ; 

 bears in the Cold season large pale-blue flowers ; produces seed 

 abundantly. 



2. M. sangnineum. Bears in the C?ld weather purplish-blue 

 flowers, in all other respects very similar to the preceding ; oc- 

 casionally yields seed, from which yoijng plants may be raised. 



Osbeckia. 



A genus containing many handsoifte plants with the peculiar 

 characteristic three-ribbed leaves of the Melastoma and Ple- 

 roma, and producing beautiful flowers very similar to theirs: 



