MELASTOMACE^. . 3 



long tubular beak with an oblique opening at the extremity' by which 

 the pollen escapes.^ In all the stamens will be seen, at the junction 

 of the anther with the filament, two tubercles or horns of variable 

 length, above which, in the larger stamens, is an inferior prolongation 

 of the connective not found in the smaller. In prefloration, all the 



Fig. 6 Seed (',«). 



Melastoma malabatliHcum. 



Fig. 3. Diagraiip. 



Fig. 5. Fruit. 



Fig. 7. Long. sect. 

 of seed. 



stamens have the anther folded back upon the filament so that the 

 summit faces the bottom of the flower occupying one of the small 

 cavities between the base of the receptacle and that of the gynsscium.^ 

 Between the stamens are seen the walls of separation between these 

 small hollows which connect the receptacle with the ovary. The 

 latter rises free throughout the rest of its extent, and supports a 

 style surrounded by a sort of hairy ruffle,^ simple, finally curved and 

 exserted, terminating in a small stigmatiferous cupule not enlarged. 

 In the ovary are five alternipetalous cells, in the internal angle of 

 which is inserted a large placenta with a short contracted support and 



' Thia extremity looks directly dowBwards 

 •when in the bud the anther is much inflexed at 

 the top of the filament. Later it is quite 

 superior, 



" In those of the Melastomacew where it has 

 heen observed the pollen is described as " ellip- 

 soid with three blunt ridges and six folds ; in 

 water, oval or spherical with six bands, on three 

 of which a papilla." (H. Mohl, Ann. Sc. Nat. 

 ser. 2, iii. 332.) 



^ The origin of these cavities, so common in 

 this family, is that the development of the re- 

 ceptacular tissue in those portions which bind 

 it to the ovary cannot take place in those points 



occupied by the incurved anther. The bands 

 which separate these cavities from each other 

 are often called partitions, and there is indeed 

 some analogy between the mode in which these 

 partitions are formed and those of many 

 ovaries. 



■* In this genus, as in many others, it is 

 formed of as many scales as there are cells in 

 the ovary, sometimes free, sometimes united to 

 a variable extent, the concavity being opposite 

 the base of the style, covered more or less 

 abundantly with hairs, sometimes accrescent to 

 the summit of the fruit. 



B 2 



