512 Lx. MELASTOMACEiE. (0. B. Clarke.) 



, DOTJBTFnt GEUnS. 



Lencymmsea, Presl. Epimd Bot. 211, a genus supposed by Kurz to come next 

 Planchaaia, has opposite leaves and branches, and is probably stipulate (from Presra- 

 description) : at all events it cannot be allied to Flanchonia. 



Obber lx. I«EI.ASTOiaACX:2B. (By C. B. Clarke.) 



Herlis or shrubs, more rarely trees, sometimes climbers. Leaves opposite or rarely 

 whorled, generally petioled, entire or nearly so, often palmately 3-5^-nerved from 

 near the base to the apex (usually pinnate-veined in Memecyltm) ; stipules 0. 

 Flofwers spiked panicled or corymbed, rarely solitary or clustered, regular, herma-^ 

 phrodite. Calyx-tvhe united by vertical vralls to the ovary, rarely nearly free ; 

 limb usually 4r-5- (sometimes 3- or 6-) lobed, sometimes truncate, rarely falling off 

 in a cap. Petals as many as the calyx-lobes, contorted in the bud, on the mar- 

 gin of the calyx-limb. Stamens as many or more than (frequently twice as many 

 as) the petals, inserted -with them ; alternate stamens often shorter sometimes 

 rudimentary, filaments bent inwards in the bud ; anthers opening at the summit^ 

 hy one or two pores, rarely by slits down the face ; connective often appendaged 

 near the base by bristles tubercles or a spur. Ovary 4-5- (rarely 3- or 6-)- 

 celled (in Memecylon 1-celled) ; style simple, filiform, rarely short; ovules very 

 many (except in Memeeylmi) ; placentas in the Melastomecs axile, in the Astro- 

 niets parietal, in Memecylon free central. Fruit included in the calyx-tube, 

 capsular or berried, breaking up irregularly or hy slita through the top of its- 

 ceUs. Seeds minute, very many (in Memecylon one only); albumen 0; coty- 

 ledons short (or in some of the Memecylets long thin convolute). — Distkeb. Spe- 

 cies 1800, tropical with a few suhtropical ; very many in America, many in. 

 south-east Asia, a few in Africa and Polynesia. 



Sttbobser I. nXelastomeae. Ovary 3-6- (usually 4-^5-) celled. Omdes 

 very many, on placentas radiating from the axis. Seeds very many. Anthers 

 opening by a single terminal pore (rarely by 2). 



Tribe I. Osbeckiefe. Seeds curved through half a circle, minutely pvmc- 

 tate. 



Stamens all alike. Fruit capsular 1. Osbeckia. 



Stamens all nearly alike. Fruit a berry 2. OiAirrHEEi. 



Stamens very unequal 3. Melastoha. 



Tktbb n. Ozysporeee. Seeds straight, oblong or cuneate, raphe often, 

 excurrent. Ooai-y with the Vertex usually free conical. Petals more than 3.. 

 Infioi-eseence not scorpioid. Fruit capsular. 



* Inflm-eseenee terminal (see also Ochthocharis). 



Panicles broad shoTpy 4. Oxtspoea. 



Large climber. Flowers umbellate 5. Kendbickia. 



Panicles narrow. Flowers minute 6. Allomoephia. 



** Irtfloreseence axillary, stamens equal,Jlowers minute. 



Stamens 4 7. Blastus. 



Stamens 10 8. Ochthochabis. 



Stamens 8 9. Anebikcleistds.- 



