323 



Note on two undescribed species of Melastoma. Extract of a 

 letter from Mr. J. W. Masters, Assam. 



" No. 146 in Herbarium, No. 1220 in Collecting Book. 

 " Melastoma Jenkinsii, Masters. 



" A straggling shrub found on the banks of the Lohit, by 

 Major Jenkins. Bark scabrous ; young shoots somewhat 4- 

 sided, and clothed with roughish down. Leaves opposite, 

 large, about seven inches long by three broad, boldly 5-nerved, 

 with a fainter nerve close to the margin; connecting-veins 

 prominent and parallel, lanceolate, acuminate, rounded at 

 the base ; nerves coloured ; margins dentate ; petioles about an 

 inch long, fringed on the upper surface. Flowers in terminal 

 drooping racemes ; racemes from six to twelve inches long, 

 of a beautiful bright carmine, (puniceous). Bractes 2, remote 

 3-nerved, calyx 4-sided, 4-partite, not hairly, not clothed 

 with ciliate scales ; segments persistent ; tube longer than the 

 ovarium, sprinkled with downy specks. Corolla 4-petalled de- 

 ciduous. Stamens 8 ; anthers dissimilar, yellow, erect, 4, pink 

 coloured, pedicelled, with a 2-lobed process at the base. Style 

 simple, shorter than the stamens. Capsule 4-celled, many 

 seeded. — Saikwah, December, 1843, found also on the banks 

 of the Soondree, near the Duphla Hills, October, 1845. 



"The following also, may not be altogether unacceptable. 

 I cannot find any description that agrees well with it in 

 Roxburgh, Wight, or Jack, these are the only works I have 

 to refer to — 



" No. 148 in Herbarium, No. 151 in Collecting Book. 

 " Melastoma Griffithiana, Masters. 



" A very elegant dwarf shrub, with numerous purple flow- 

 ers, it is every where densely covered with long stiffish hairs, 

 often swollen, and coloured at the base. Branches 4-sided, 

 4-angled. Leaves opposite, short petioled, lanceolate round- 

 ed at the base, 5-nerved. Flowers in large terminal panicles ; 

 pedicels short. Calyx urceolate ; tube much longer than the 



