MELASTOMACE^. 33 



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

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

 the Myrtacece, or evacuants like some Lythrariacece, a considerable 

 number of the Melastomacece 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 Kibessia azurea" is equally useful. 

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

 as also from that of Osheclda chinensisJ' 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'' (fig. 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. Polyanthum.,^ 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 affections.-^^ The fruit of OsbecMa 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; 



' Endl. Enehirid. 648. — Lindl. Veg. Kingi. — M. anolanthum Naud. — M. Seyehellarum 



733.— KoBENTH. 8ynops.Pl. Diaphor. 914, H58. Naup. 



^ Bl. Flora (1831) 526. — A. speetahilis Zipp. ' It is asserted that the name of the gemis 



— Pharnaeeumpapetarium'RvjiBS.Herb.Amboin. Melastoma originated in the blackened lips 



iv. 1 34, t. 69. caused by eating its fruit. 



3 DC. Prcdr. iii. 196.— Bl. Mus. Lugd.-Bat. " Bl. Mora (1831) 481.— Af. malabathricum 



i. 8. — M. azurea Bl. Bijdr, 1079. — M. echinata Jack (not L.). — M. tonadense 'Bl. — M. brachyo^ 



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



* L. Spee. 490. — 0. angusUfolia Don, Prodr, bronianum Naud. 

 Fl. Nepalj.%21. — O.japonicaHAvn. — O.zeylanica '" Louk. H. Coch. (ed. 1790) 273 {CAy mua). 



DO. (not L.). — 0. linearis Bl. — 0. myrtifolia " M. cyanoides {M. molucoanum Bl. Bijdr. 



Bl. — 0. deeoraWALL. — Tristemma angustifoliutn 1078; — M. cyanoides &^. Sees Cyclop, t. 23; — 



Bl. Bijdr. 1079. OtantAera moluceana Bl. ; — 0. cyanoides Tm.) 



' Bl. Flora (1831) 510 ; Eumphia i. 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. — HopK. Bot. Mag. t. The berries are given to children afflicted with 



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

 dendra Eeinw. '^ Benth. Cat. Wall. n. 4060. — "Wight, Icon. 



' L. Spec. 559. — M. guinquenervium Burm. t. 998. — 0. Kotigueda Naud. 

 Thes. Zeyl. t. 73. — M. affine Don. — M. denticu- ^^ DC. Prodr. iii. 143. — 0. virgata Don. — 0. 



latum Labill. Sert. Austro.-Caled. t. 64.— Jf. chinensis Bot. Mag. t. 4026., — 0. polycephala 



polyamthum Bl. — M. articulatum Naud. — M. Nacd. — M. osbecMoides Hook. Bot. Mag. t. 



heierostegiumli AVT>. — M.NovaSollandice'^AVD. 2235. 



VOL. VII. D 



