MELASTOMACEiE. 579 



celled; the cells at first depressed; the placentas borne at the very base 

 of the cells at a little distance from the axis, directed obliquely 

 upwards and outwards, flattened, dilated upwards, notched at the 

 summit, covered with innumerable linear-oblong ovules, which are 

 marked with a conspicuous brown rhaphe. Seeds not seen, nor 

 mature fruit ; the immature fruit 3 lines in diameter. But there are 

 vestiges of old fruit, like that of the foregoing species ; showing that 

 the pod, at first fleshy, at length dry, is apparently irregularly rup- 

 tured; the epicarp at length falling away, and leaving a fibrous 

 framework of numerous persistent nerves, w T ithin which is the thin 

 lacerated lining of the cells, and the persistent thickened placentae. 



Plate 72, B. — Astronia Pickeringii : a branch of the var. (3. past 

 flowering, of the natural size. Fig. 1. Vertical section of a flower- 

 bud of var. a. 2, 3. Stamens from the same. 4. Calyx and style of 

 var. a., after flowering. 5. Vertical section of the same. 6. Trans- 

 verse section of the ovary. 7. A placenta, detached. 8. Ovules. — 

 The details enlarged. 



3. Astronia confertiflora, Sp. Nov. 



A. foliis longe petiolatis ovalibus obtusis basi rotundatis 3—5-uerviis, codis 

 subtus ramulisque junior ibus cum cyma composita corymbosa conferti- 

 flora rufo-pubescentibus ; floribus in ramulis ultimis capitato-congestis 

 subsessilibus ; calyce glandulis r lifts consperso, limbo ultra ovarium 

 breviter producto, margine irregulariter S-lO-ci-enato ; ovario tri- 

 quadriloculari ; placentis e /undo loculorum ortis. 



Hab. Feejee Islands: in the Sandal- wood district of Vanualevu; 

 on the banks of streams. 



We have this in fruit only. If rightly identified with a plant 

 recorded in Dr. Pickering's notes, it is a shrub, 8 feet high. Branch- 

 lets stout, terete, nodose, glabrate; the ultimate ones somewhat quad- 

 rangular, and when young clothed with a thick and scurfy reddish- 

 brovon pubescence, which soon disappears. Leaves oval, obtuse at both 

 ends, or more rounded at the base, 4 to 6 inches long, 2h to 3i wide, 

 chartaceous, rather bright green, glabrous, except the three principal 

 ribs, which when young are ferrugineous-pubescent underneath; these 



