2IO 



Melastomacece. 



[Memecylon. 



ovules 8-16, on a free central placenta ; fruit a small dry 

 berry, more or less globose, crowned with cal.-limb, 1 -seeded; 

 seed large, with a shell-like testa, cotyledons much folded, no 

 endosperm. — Sp. 126 (Cogniaux) ; 40 in Fl. B. Ind. 



This is one of the most difficult genera in our flora. There are 

 probably too many species in the following enumeration, and I had hoped 

 to materially reduce them on a critical revision. This, however, I find it 

 impossible to do on any satisfactory principle, and the plan followed in 

 Fl. B. Ind. of placing a number as varieties of M.edule in no way simpli- 

 fies matters. I find Thwaites' method of grouping the Ceylon species 

 much better than more recent ones, and have followed it here. Many of 

 the forms he collected I have not met with alive, and they are still 

 represented only by the C. P. specimens and drawings. 



I have also several apparently undescribed species, but hesitate to 

 publish further names in this genus. 



Leaves prominently 3-nerved. 



Twigs cylindrical .... 

 Twigs quadrangular .... 

 Leaves penninerved, sometimes slightly 

 3-nerved at base. 

 Epigynous disk smooth or with radiating 

 ridges which are not winged. 

 Twigs usually 4-winged. 



L. over 8 in., veins very conspicuous 

 L. under 4 in., veins obscure . 

 Twigs 4-angled. 



L. under 1 in 



L. over 1 in. 

 L. acute at base, cymes stalked. 

 L. thick, cymes dense 

 L. thin, cymes few-flowered 

 L. obtuse at base, cymes sessile . 

 Twigs cylindrical (occasionally sub- 

 quadrangular). 



L. cordate at base (see also vars. 

 of 3 and 4). 



L. over 6 in., lanceolate-oblong 

 L. under 4 in., rotundate. 

 L. revolute at margin. 

 Cymes sessile . 

 Cymes pedunculate . 

 L. not revolute 

 L. not cordate. 

 L. over 1 in. 



L. rounded at base, over 6 in. 

 L. acute or tapering at base 

 (sometimes rounded in 15). 

 L. rounded or obtuse at apex. 

 L. obovate, sessile . 

 L. oval, shortly stalked . 



M. Arnottiana. 

 M. Gardneri. 



M. HOOKERI. 

 M. WlGHTII. 



5. M. PARVIFOLIUM. 



6. M. VARIANS. 



7. M. ELEGANTULUM. 



8. M. ELLIPTICUM. 



9. M. MACROPHYLLUM. 



10. 



M. 



OVOIDEUM. 



II. 



M. 



REVOLUTUM. 



12. 



M. 



ORBICULARE. 



13- 



M. 



PROCERUM. 



14. 



M. 



CUNEATUM. 



IS- 



M. 



UMBELLATUM. 



