MELASTOMACE^:. 



597 



12. AN PLECTRUM.* 



Aplectrum, Blume, in Flora> 1831, p. 502, & Mas. Bot. Lugd.-Bat. p. 37; Naudin, 

 in Ann. Sci. Nat. ser. 3, 15, p. 303, t. 15; non Nutt. (1818). 



1. Anplectrum? ovalifolium, Sp. Nov. 



A. fere glaberrimum; foliis late ovalibus sen ovato-rotundis breviter 

 acuminatis petiolatis submembranaceis tripli-quintuplinerviis ; cymis 

 pidveridento-puberulis folio brevioribus ; calycis dentibus brevissimis 

 callosis, denticulis externis nullis; petcdis ovatis acutis ; anther is 8 

 homomorphis. 



Aplectrum t ovalifolium, Naudin, in scheda. 



Hab. Feejee Islands; at Sandal-wood Bay, Vanua-levu. 



Shrub, or small tree, glabrous, except a very minute pulverulent 

 pubescence on the nascent parts ; the branches terete, nodose. Leaves 

 nearly membranaceous, about 2 inches long, or one of each pair 

 smaller, conspicuously petioled (the petiole half an inch long), broadly 

 oval or rounded-ovate, short-acuminate, rounded but not cordate at the 

 base, dull, paler beneath, very entire, triple-ribbed from near the base, 

 and with a pair of lateral, nearly basal nerves, which approach the 

 margin. Petioles unconnected by a transverse membrane. Cyme 

 terminal and in the upper axils, small, minutely puberident, sometimes 

 paniculate, shorter than the leaves, several-flowered. Bracts linear. 

 Flower-buds a line or a line and a half in length, short-pedicel led. 

 Calyx turbinate ; the limb with 4 very short and obtuse callous teeth, 

 and destitute of exterior appendages. Petals 4, ovate and acute in the 

 bud. Stamens 8 : anthers received in aestivation into as many narrow 

 canals left between the calyx and the wall of the ovary, oblong, with 



* A slight change in the privative may render Blume's name, Aplectrum, sufficiently 

 different from the earlier Aplectrun of Nuttall, which is apparently a good genus, of 

 Orchidacece, allied to Corallorhiza. 



150 



