GENERA. 



I. MELASTOME^. 



1. Melastoma Bubm, — Flowers hermaphrodite regular, oftener 

 5-merous, more rarely 6, 7-merous ; receptacle sacciform, externally 

 setose, strigose, paleaeeo- or penicellato-strigose. Sepals 5-7, in- 

 serted at margin of receptacle, equal to or shorter than receptacle, 

 sometimes alternating with an equal number of setiform teeth ; 

 contorted in prefloration. Petals same in number alternate, inserted 

 with sepals, obovate or unequilateral, contorted contrariwise to the 

 sepals. Stamens twice as many as the petals, 2-seriate, the 5-7 

 alternipetalous being larger ; filaments inserted with perianth ; 

 anthers oblong- or linear-subulate, incurved in bud, often finally 

 recurved, introrse, 1 -porous at apex; connective more or less pro- 

 duced below cells and there at base 2-tuberculate or 2-calcarate 

 within ; but the oppositipetalous smaller ; connective not or very 

 slightly produced, 2-tuberculate. Germen inserted at bottom of 

 receptacle, sometimes free for the greater part or internally united to 

 the receptacle by means of the septa alternating with the stamens 

 and enclosing the top of the anther in the bud ; style slender, at 

 base girt to greater or less height by the produced summit of the 

 germen, at stigmatose apex obtuse or dilated. Ovules in 5-7 cells 

 indefinite in number, inserted in axil of thick placenta, small, anatro- 

 pous. Fruit baccate, fleshy or subcoriaeeous, girt with setose, pulpy, 

 or coriaceous receptacle, indehiscent or opening unequally. Seeds 

 00 , small, cochleate or arcuate ; cotyledons of exalbuminous or fleshy 

 embryo equal or unequal ; the exterior sometimes larger. — Shrubs, 

 oftener strigose, erect or more rarely creeping; leaves opposite 

 coriaceous entire, 5-7-nerved ; flowers terminal solitary, 2-bracteate 

 oi in cymes or short cymiferous-compound racemes. {Trop. Asia 

 and Oceania, Seychelles.) — See p. 1. 



