1 94 MelastomacecB. [Osbeckia. 



Cal. with stellate stalked processes. 



Much-branched bush . . . . 7. O. RUBICUNDA. 



Prostrate herb 8. O. MOONII. 



Cal. -tube nearly glabrous . . . . 9. O. OCTANDRA. 



1. O. erythrocephala, Naud. in Ann. Sc. Nat., ser. 3, xiv. 58 (1850). 

 Bowitiya, 5. 



O. truncata, Arn. (non Don) and O. parvifolia, Arn. in Hook. Comp. 

 B. Mag. ii. 308. O. Leschenaultiana, Thw. Enum. 104 (non DC). Cogn. 

 Mon. 328. C. P. 1576, 284. 



Fl. B. Ind. ii. 514 (O. cupularis, Don, var.) and 515 (0. parvifolia). 

 Wight, Ic. t. 996 (O. Leschenaultiand). 



Stems numerous, prostrate or ascending, long, cylindrical 

 below, quadrangular above, slightly branched, reddish-purple, 

 covered with long spreading hair ; 1. variable in size, \- 1| in.,, 

 broadly oval, rounded at base, acute at apex, finely ciliate- 

 serrate, densely and softly hairy on both sides, 5 -nerved, 

 petiole \ in., hairy; fl. \-\\ in., on short ped., cymes sessile, 

 dense, capitulate ; cal.-tube urceolate, thickly set with simple 

 bristly hair below and with stalked stellate processes above ; 

 cal.-segm. 4, triangular, ciliate, with a large stellate tuft at 

 apex ; pet. 4, roundish ; stam. 8, anth. blunt ; ov. with coarse 

 erect bristles on top. 



Montane region, especially in upper zone ; very common. Fl. all the 

 year ; pale pink. 



Also in S. India ? 



An abundant plant on the open patanas and variable in the amount of 

 hair on stem and leaves. A small form, O. parvifolia, Arn. (originally 

 based on a specimen of Walker, n. 332) is figured in Bot. Reg. t. 565 

 under the name O. zeylanica, and with the fl. pure white. C. P. 284 

 (from N. Eliya) has much longer anthers, and the flowers occasionally 

 5-merous ; it was regarded by Thwaites as probably a hybrid with 



0. rubicunda or O. aspera. 



This never turns black in drying, as stated in the books. 



I have thought it best to retain Naudin's specific name, which refers 

 certainly to the Ceylon plant ; as this has almost invariably 4-merous fl., 

 whilst O. cupularis, Don, of S. India, is described (W. and A. Prod. 323) 

 as 5-merous. 



2. O. RSieedii, Gardn. in Thw. Enum. 104 (1859). 

 Thw. Enum. 104. Cogn. 1. c. 329. C. P. 129. 

 Fl. B. Ind. ii. 515. 



A small erect bush with numerous ascending branches, 

 branchlets quadrangular, very scabrous with prickly hairs ; 



1. f-i^in., lanceolate or oval, tapering to both ends, scabrous 

 above when young, afterwards nearly smooth, scabrous 

 beneath with small prickles, especially on nerves beneath, 

 stiff and rigid, pale beneath, very prominently 3-nerved, 

 petiole short, scabrous ; fl. small, about f in., nearly sessile, in 



