XCVI. MELASTOMACEJE. 431 



TRIBE II. OSBECKIE^E. Connective produced at the base. Seeds cocbleate (Old and New 

 Worlds). Acisanthera, Comolia, Pterolepis, Macacria, Pleroma, Brachyota, Chcctolepis, Aciotis, 

 Osbeckia, Tristemna, Melastoma, Dissotis, &c. 



TRIBE III. RHEXIEJE. Connective Hardly produced at the base, spurred posteriorly, not 

 appendaged in front. Seeds cochleate (American). MonocJicetum, Rhexia. 



TRIBE IV. MERIANIE^E. Connective hardly produced at the base, appendaged or spurred 

 in front, appendage usually erect and inflated. Seeds cuneate, angled or fusiform (American). 

 Axincea, Meriania, Centronia, Graffenriedia, &c. 



TRIBE V. OXYSPORE^;. Connective hardly produced at the base, acute or spurred behind, 

 not appendaged in front. Seeds angled or oblong, raphe usually thickened and produced (Old 

 World). Oxyspora, Allomorpha, Ochthocharis, Bredia, &c. 



TKIBE VI. SONERILE^E. Ovary and capsule depressed at the top. Connective simple or 

 appendaged before and behind. Seeds straight or nearly so (Old and New Worlds). Sonerila, 

 Amphiblemma, Bertolonia, Monolena, &c. 



Series II. Fruit a berry. Stamens usually equal. 



TRIBE VII. MEDINILLEJ;. Anthers usually recurved ; connective appendaged behind, or 

 before and behind. Seeds not cochleate (Old World). Marumia, Dissochceta, Anplectrum, 

 Medinilla, Pachycentria, &c. 



TRIBE VIII. MICONIE^E. Anthers incurved or recurved, opening by 1-2 pores or slits ; 

 connective rarely produced or appendaged. Seeds various (American). Oxymeris, Calyco- 

 gonium, Tetrazygia, Conostegia, Miconia, Tococa, Heterochittim, Clidemia, Sagrcca, Belinda, 

 Loreya, Henriettea, Ossoea, &c. 



TRIBE IX. BLAKEJE. Anthers large, 1-2-pored ; connective simple of spurred behind. 

 Flowers involucrate. Leaves with strong veins between the ribs (American). Blakea, 

 Topobea. 



SUB-ORDER II. ASTBONIE^. 



Ovary 2-oo -celled ; ovules numerous, placentas at the base or on the outer walls of the 

 cells near their base. Seeds minute (Old World). Astronia, Pternandra, Kibessia. 



SUB-ORDER III. MEMECYLEM. 



Ovary either 1-celled with the ovules whorled round a central placenta, or several-celled 

 with 2-3 collateral ovules in the inner angles of the cells. Fruit 1-few-seeded. Seeds large 

 (Old and New Worlds). Motirisia, Memecylon. 



Melastomacece approach Lytlirariete in the valvate calyx, insertion of the petals, diplostemony, 

 several many-ovuled ovarian cells, exalbuminous embryo, opposite or whorled leaves, and especially in 

 the singular structure of the stamens. There is also a real affinity between them and Myrtaceai ; in 

 both the petals are inserted on the calyx, the ovary has several many-ovuled cells, the style is simple, the 

 embrvo is exalbuminous, the leaves opposite, sometimes even 3-nerved (Rhodomyrtus), and the stem 

 woody; but Myrtacete are generally sweet-scented, and have punctate leaves; their anthers are short, 

 rounded, deprived of appendages, and the petals imbricate in bud. 



Melastomacca mostly grow in tropical America ; a few advance into North America to 40 (Rhexid). 

 None have yet been found in Chili, a few inhabit Asia and Africa. 



The leaves of Melastomacecc are astringent, and of many species slightly acid. The berries also 



