428 XCVI. MELASTOMACEiE; 



rotate ; limb shortly multifid {Asteranthos) or double, the outer sub-rotate, plaited, 

 entire, the inner radiating, multifid {ISfapoleona) . Stamens inserted at the base of 

 the corolla, 5 petaloid, -with 2 anthers [filaments connate in a petaloid cup, bearing 

 many anthers] {Napoleona), or [filaments] indefinite, filiform {Asteranthos) ; anthers 

 2-celled, dehiscence longitudinal (^siemwi/ios) [or 1-celled in JVapoZeowa]. Ovary 

 inferior [or semi-inferior, 5-6-celled] ; style short ; stigma a depressed head, lobed 

 {Asteranthos) or peltate, angular {Napoleona) ; ovules several in each cell, pendulous 

 from the inner angle. Beket crowned by the calyx-limb. Seeds numerous, sunk 

 in the pulp [in Napoleona ; few, large, angled or reniform, with a membranous testa 

 and large thick cotyledons, between which the radicle is retracted ;— unknown in 



Asteranthos. — Ed.] . 



GENEEA. 

 Napoleona. Asteranthos. 



[A very singular family or tribe of Myrtaeece, evidently closely allied to Lemjthis and BerthoUetia, 

 -svitli the valvate calyx and alternate leaves of Lythrariea, to which they approach in the crumpled 

 corolla. 



Napoleona is a native of west tropical Africa, and Asteranthos of North Brazil. Of their properties 

 nothing is known. — Ed.] 



XCVI. MELASTOMACEJS. 

 (Melastoma,- Jussieu. — Melastomace^, Br.) 



COUOLLA polypetalous, usually diplostemonous, inserted on the calyx, contorted in 

 lud. Stamens 3-12, inserted with the petals. OvAitY free or adherent, of 1-20 

 many-ovuled cells. Petjit a capsule or herry. Embbto straight or curved, exal- 

 huminous. 



Stem arborescent or frutescent or sufirutescent, rarely herbaceous, erect, 

 climbing or epiphytal, with cylindric or tetragonal branches swollen at the nodes. 

 Leaves opposite orwhorled, simple, equal or unequal, entire, rarely toothed, usually 

 narrowed into a sometimes swollen petiole ; lateral nerves 2, 4, 6, or 8, nearly as 

 prominent as the median, and directed like it from the base to the top of the leaf, 

 preserving a uniform thickness, and united by finer transverse nerves. ElO"Weks ? , 

 regular, usually in panicled or contracted cymes, rarely solitary, naked, or diversely 

 bracteolate, sometimes furnished with a sort of coloured involucre {Blahea). Eecep- 

 taculae cup campanulate, urceolate or oblong- tubular, quite free, or adhering to the 

 ovary by longitudinal septa. Caltx-limb 5-6-3-partite, sometimes entire, imbricate 

 or contorted in bud. Petals free, or sometimes slightly united at the base, inserted 

 on the calyx-throat, on a fleshy annular layer, alternate with the calyx-segments, 

 shortly clawed, contorted in bud. Stamens inserted with the petals, usually 

 double (or sometimes multiple) their number, sometimes equal {Sonerila, Poter- 

 anthera), sometimes all equal and fertile, sometimes those opposite to the petals 

 smallest or sterile, rarely rudimentary or ; filaments free, inflexed in bud ; anthers 



