MELASTOMACE^. 33 



Properties.^ — These are imperfectly determined, and but few 

 plants of this family are used. Not aromatics and stimulants like 

 the Mi/rtacecc, or evacuants like some Lythrariacem, a considerable 

 number of the Mclastomacece are slightly astringent. The leaves of 

 Astronia are often acid; those of A, papetaria^ are used in Malaya 

 for preparing fish sauce. The solid wood is used for building ; its 

 bark is astringent. The wood of Kihessia azurea^ is equally useful. 

 The bark of MediniUa is emollient ; cataplasms are prepared from it, 

 as also from that of Osheclda chinensis.^ M, macrocarpa^ of the 

 Moluccas is reputed alexipharmic. The fruit of M. javanensis^ 

 (fig. 21) is edible. M. crispata is employed in the treatment of 

 tumours,- wounds and snake-bites. Its acid leaves are also esteemed 

 as a condiment. Melastoma malahathricum'^ (^g. 1-7) is recom- 

 mended as an astringent in flux, diarrhoea, and dysentery. Its bark 

 is used in lotions and gargles. The berries are edible ^ and form a 

 red dye for wool. The roots of M. Pohjanthum,^ a species closely 

 allied to the preceding, is prescribed against epilepsy in the Moluccas. 

 M. septemnervia,^^ in Cochin China, is used in the treatment of 

 diarrhoetic afiections.^^ The fruit of Osheckia Wightiana ^^ is employed 

 in dyeing by the Indians. Its leaves are prescribed against stomatitis 

 and enteritis. The wood furnishes charcoal for powder, and the 

 flowers form ornaments for the head. 0, octandra^^ is also astringent; 



^ ExDL. Enchirid. 648. — Lindl. Veg. Kingd. — M. anolanthum Naud. — M. Seychellarum 



733. — RosENTH. Synops.Pl. Biaphor. 914, 1158. Naup. 



* Bl. Flora (1831) 526. — A. speetabilis Zipp. ^ It is asserted that the name of the genus 



— Pharnaceitmpapetarium'RviA.v-a.Herb.Amboin. Melastoma originated in the blackened lips 



iv. 134, t. 69. caused by eating its fruit. 



3 DC. Prodr. iii. 196.— Bl. Mus. Lugd.-Bat. ^ Bl. Flora (1831) 481.— 3/. malabathricum 



i. 8. — M. azurea Bl. JBijdr. 1079. — M. echinata Jack (not L.). — M. tonadense Bl. — M. brachyo- 



Reinw. don Naud. — M. oliganthum Naud. — M. Hom- 



■* L. Spec. 490. — 0. angustifolia Don, Prodr. bronianum Naud. 

 Fl. Nepal.22l. — O.japonica^kVD. — O.zeylanica ^o Louk. H. Coch. (ed. 1790) 273 {Cuy mua). 



DC. (not L.). — 0. linearis Bl. — 0. myriifolia ^^ M. cyanoides [M. moluccanum Bl. Bijdr. 



Bl. — . decora^ KiA.. — Tristemma angustifolium 1078; — M. cyanoides Sm. Bees Cyclop, t. 23; — 



Bl. Bijdr. 1079. Otanthera moluccana Bl. ; — 0. cyanoides Tri.) 



5 Bl. Flora (1831) 510 ; Rumphiai. t. 2.—M. also has edible fruit. The women of the Mo- 



nodosum Zipp. luccas consider its roots an energetic abortive. 



•^ Bl. Flora (1831) 515. — Hook. Bot. Mag. t. The berries are given to children afflicted with 



4569. — M. javanense Bl, Bijdr. 1078. — M. epi- incontinence of urine. 

 dendra Reinw. 12 Benth. Cat. Wall. n. 4060.— Wight, Icon. 



"^ L. Spec. 559. — M. quinquenervium Burm. t. 998. — 0. Kotigueda Naud. 

 Thes. Zeyl. t. IZ.—M. affine Tio^.—M. denticu- ^^ DC. Prodr. iii. 143.-0. virgata Don.— 0. 



latuyn Labill. Sert. Austro.-Caled. t. 64.— -Sf. chinensis Bot. Mag. i. 4026. — 0. polycephala 



polyanthum Bl. — M. articulatum Naud. — M. Naud. — M. osbeckioides Hook. Bot. Mag. t. 



heterostegiimi Nacd. — M. Novce-Hollandia Naud. 2235. 



VOL. VII. D 



