428 XCVI. MELASTOMACE^. 



rotate ; limb shortly tnultifid (Asteranthos) or double, the outer sub-rotate, plaited, 

 entire, the inner radiating, multifid (Napoleona). STAMENS inserted at the base of 

 the corolla, 5 petaloid, with 2 anthers [filaments connate in a petaloid cup, bearing 

 many anthers] (Napoleona), or [filaments] indefinite, filiform (Asteranthos) ; anthers 

 2-celled, dehiscence longitudinal (Asteranthos) [or 1-celled in Napoleona~\. OVARY 

 inferior [or semi-inferior, 5-6-celled] ; style short ; stigma a depressed head, lobed 

 (Asteranthos} or peltate, angular (Napoleona) ; ovules several in each cell, pendulous 

 from the inner angle. BERRY crowned by the calyx-limb. SEEDS numerous, sunk 

 in the pulp [in Napoleona ; few, large, angled or reniform, with a membranous testa 

 and large thick cotyledons, between which the radicle is retracted ; unknown in 



Asteranthos. ED.] . 



GENERA. 

 Napoleonn. Asteranthos. 



[A very singular family or tribe of Myrtacca, evidently closely allied to Lew/this and BerthoUetia, 

 with the valvate calyx and alternate leaves of Lythrarica;, to which they approach in the crumpled 

 corolla. 



Napokona is a native of west tropical Africa, and Atteranthos of North Brazil. Of their properties 

 nothing is known. ED.] 



XCVI. MELASTOMACE^E. 



(MELASTOMA, Jussieu. MELASTOMACE^E, Dr.) 



COROLLA polypetalous, usually diplostemonoits, inserted on the calyx, contorted in 

 lud. STAMENS 3-12, inserted with the petals. OVARY free or adherent, of 120 

 many-ovuled cells. FRUIT a capsule or berry. EMBRYO straight or curved, exal- 

 buminoue, 



STEM arborescent or frutescent or suffrutescent, rarely herbaceous, erect, 

 climbing or epiphytal, with cylindric or tetragonal branches swollen at the nodes. 

 LEAVES opposite or whorled, simple, equal or unequal, entire, rarely toothed, usually 

 narrowed into a sometimes swollen petiole 5 lateral nerves 2, 4, 6, or 8, nearly as 

 prominent as the median, and directed like it from the base to the top of the leaf, 

 preserving a uniform thickness, and united by finer transverse nerves. FLOWERS $ , 

 regular, usually in panicled or contracted cymes, rarely solitary, naked, or diversely 

 bracteolate, sometimes furnished with a sort of coloured involucre (Blakea). RECEP- 

 TACULAR CUP campanulate, urceolate or oblong-tubular, quite free, or adhering to the 

 ovary by longitudinal septa. CALYX-LIMB 5-6-3-partite, sometimes entire, imbricate 

 or contorted in bud. PETALS free, or sometimes slightly united at the base, inserted 

 011 the calyx-throat, on a fleshy annular layer, alternate with the calyx-segments, 

 shortly clawed, contorted in bud. STAMENS inserted with the petals, usually 

 double (or sometimes multiple) their number, sometimes equal (Honerila, Poter- 

 anthera), sometimes all equal and fertile, sometimes those opposite to the petals 

 smallest or sterile, rarely rudimentary or ; filaments free, inflexed in bud ; anthers 



