548 LX. MELASTOMACEiE. (0. B. Clarke.) [Medinilla. 



Anthers at the base very shortly produced, spnr of the connective very short. FhiU 

 i-1 in. diam., when ripe black, edible though insipid, rim of the calyx then evanes- 

 cent—This plant reaUy differs little from M. Hasseltii ; but in its typical form the 

 leaves are elliptic nearly sessile : also the anthers at the base and the spur of the 

 connective are even shorter. 



5. SK. fuclisioides, Oardn. in Cak. Jmim. Nat. Hist. viii. 12; branches 

 round somewhat striated, leaves subsessile elliptic-oblong subcvmeate at the 

 base, peduncles 1-3-flowered, flowers 4r-merous. Thwaites Eniim. 106 ; Triana 

 in Trans. Linn. Soc. xxviii. 86. 



Ceylon ; Gardner ; Newera EUia and Horton Hains, Thwaites, 

 Leaves 2-3J in., 3-5-nerved, minutely glandular beneath (Thwaites). PeduneUt 

 solitary ; pedicels and calyx rose-purple. Petals a fine lake below, white at top. An- 

 thers shortly produced at the base, connective with a short spur. Fruit J in. diam., 

 Bubglobose. — The specimens of this very succulent plant are imperfect and the above 

 description is mainly compiled from Gardner and Thwaites* description. 



6. m. maculata, Gardn. in Cak. Jowm. Nat. Hist. viii. 13 ; branches 

 quadrangular angles waved winged, leJaves subsessile ovate obtuse or oblong 

 obscurely crenate, peduncles 1-3-flowered, flowers 4-merous small. Thwaites 

 Enum. 106 ; Triana in Trans. lAnn. Soc. xxviii. 86, excluding the syn. Dan, 



Cetlon ; Central Provinces, alt. 3000-5000 ft., Thwaites, Macrae, Walker. 



Leaves f-l^in., 3-nerved, minutely glandular beneath (Thwaites). Catyx-Uihe 

 green-red. Petals 1 in., pale-rose. Anthers shortly produced at the base, connectiYe 

 with a short spur. Fruit ^ in. broad, very small, subcampannlate. 



Vae. l%waitesii, leaves cuneate-obovate. — Ceylon; HeUesseen, Fasdoon Corle, 

 Thwaites No. 3443. 



7. M. Beddomel, C. B. Clarke ; branches round, leaves sborfc-petioled 

 orbicular or broad-elliptic, peduncles 1-flowered, flowers 4-merou8 large. M. 

 radicans, Bedd. le. PL Ind. Or. t. 184, not of Blume. Triplectrum radicans, 

 W. ^ A. Prodr. 324. 



"Wbstben PfiNiNSULi ; KuEG, Wight. Wynaad, alt. 2000-3500 ft., Beddome. 



Leaves 1-1| in., 3-nerved, much thicker than those of M. maetdata. Petals (in 

 Wight's own No. 1151) more than | in. Beddome says the flowers are " 14-15 lines 

 long." Anthers prominently produced at the base, spur of the connective also promi- 

 nent ; four additional imperfect stamens sometimes present (ex Beddome). — This 

 plant wholly dif&rs from M. maetdata (with which Triana unites it doubtfnUy) by 

 its much larger flowers as well as different leaves and anthers. It does not appear 

 however that Triana ever saw Wight's No. 1151. Nor did Beddome, who doubts if 

 it can be the same as his M. radicans : with which however it agrees perfectly. 



8. DC. malabarica, Bedd. Ic. PI. Ind. Or. 157; branches round striate 

 somewhat verrucose, leaves 2-3 in. elliptic narrowed to both ends 3-6-nerTed, 

 petiole less than ^ in., flowers 4-merous, anthers oblong short truncate subnude 

 at base. 



AiJAMAiiiTS and Nilghikis, alt. 3000-4000 ft. ; Beddome. 



Peduncles axiUaiy, 1-3-flowered. Mowers large. Filaments long, anthers short 

 with two glandular swellings at the apex of the filament inside, spur of the con- 

 nective perceptible behind but very small. — This species in leaves and inflorescence 

 is much like M. rubicunda ; but in its anthers it is altogether remote, and approaUies 

 Pachycentria. 



*• Flowers in terminal panicles or qua^-Iateral cymes. 



