Contributions towards a Flora of Ceylon. 1 1 



braneous, glabrous. Corolla none. Stamens numerous : filaments 

 filiform : anther's subreniform, 2-celled, the cells somewhat distinct, 

 dehiscing longitudinally inwards. Ovaries 2, included within the 

 tube of the calyx, each 1 -celled, and containing a single pendulous 

 ovule. Style terminal : stigmata numerous, pencilliform, as long 

 as the style. Achcenia 2, contained within the indurated tube of the 

 calyx, which is rugose and 4-angled, with all the angles winged. 

 Seed inverse. Embryo exalbuminous, with the radical superior. 



Obs. — The specimens from which I have made the above 

 description, I found in the herbarium belonging to the Royal 

 Botanic Garden which had been formed previous to my arri- 

 val in the Island. There are about a dozen specimens, but 

 with no note attached to them ; my draughtsman, Mr. 

 Alwis, however, informs me that they were gathered by him 

 on Adam's Peak in the year 1835. It is the first species, so 

 far as I am aware, that has yet been found in India, and is 

 well distinguished from all known ones by the long ferrugine- 

 ous hairs of the lower part of the stem and petioles, and 

 the decidedly winged fruit. 



ORD. NAT. MELASTOMACE.E. 



Medinilla walkeri, Wight. 



M. ramulis confertis teretibus, foliis oppositis breviter 

 petiolatis ovato-oblongis obtusis basi obtusis quintuplinerviis, 

 pedunculis 2-3 terminalibus unifloris, floribus octandris, an- 

 theris basi postice longe unicalcaratis. 



Medinilla? walkeri, R. W. Illust. Ind. Bot. 1, p. 217, 

 (name only.) 



Hab. — On the stems of trees ; not uncommon in forests of 

 the Central Province, at an elevation of from 3 to 5,000 feet. 

 Flowers in April to June. 



