MELASTOMACE^. 



583 



from the axis, dilated and flattened upwards, broadly wedge-shaped, 

 emarginate at the summit, thickly covered with minute oblong 

 ovules. Capside gibbose, slightly depressed, li to 2 lines in diameter, 

 smooth, with rather thin walls, 3-4-celled; the dehiscence not known. 

 Seeds exceedingly numerous, filling the cells, oval or obovate, angled 

 by mutual pressure, with a thin and lax testa. Embryo not seen. 



Plate 72, C. — Astronidium parviflorum t a flowering branch, of 

 the natural size. Fig. 1. Portion of the inflorescence and fruit, of 

 the natural size. 2. Two flower-buds, and a central flower past 

 anthesis, the petals and stamens fallen. 3. A petal. 4, 5. Stamens, 

 from a flower-bud. 6. Vertical section of the calyx and ovary, after 

 flowering. 7. Placenta, viewed posteriorly. 8. A fruit, vertically 

 divided. 9. Transverse section of a fruit. 10. A seed. — The 

 analyses magnified. 



4. PLEIOCHITON, Naudin, Mss. 



F lores pentameri, iiivolucrati. Involucrum generate tri-quadriphyllum, 

 singuli floris bi-triphyllum. Calycis tubus turbinatus; denies 5 

 duplicati; exteriores subulati, cum interioribus brevioribus membra- 

 naceis obtusissimis inferne connati. Petala 5, ovata, acuta. Stamina 

 10, aiqualia, aid vix non cequalia: antherce linear i-subidatw, apice 

 subrecurvo3, poro unico tenuissimo apertce; connectivo non producto 

 nee appendicular. Stylus filiformis: stigma acutum. Ovarium 

 ovoideum, liberum, apice verticillo setarum coronatum, quadri-quin- 

 queloculare. Placental axiles. Ovula subglobosa innumera. — Frutex? 

 ml arbor fere glabra; ramis validis ad nodos setoso-hispidis ; foliis 

 ovalibus crasse coriaceis ; inflorescentia terminali; floribus cumbracteis 

 foliaceis involucrantibus capitato-congestis. 



1. Pleiochiton crassifolia, Naudin, Mss. (Tab. 73.) 



Hab. In the Organ Mountains, Brazil (according to the tickets 

 which accompany the specimen) . 



A nearly glabrous shrub or tree; with terete stout branches, bristly - 

 hispid at the nodes; the ultimate branchlets obscurely angular, 



