186 



CHINA. 



[Melastomacece. 



Ord. XXXI. MEMECYLE^. De Cand. 



1. Memecylon scutellatum ; ramulis teretiusculis, foliis brevissime petiolatis ellipticis basi 

 acutis apice subiter brevi-attenuatis coriaceis uninerviis, pedunculis axillaribus et e nodis 

 infra folia brevibus paucifloris, racemis folio multo brevioribus, toro 8-10-costato, germine 

 uniloculari, ovulis 8-10 circa receptaculum breve e fundo ortum orbiculatim dispositis. — 

 Scutula scutellata. Lour. Cochin, v. I. p. 290. De Cand. Prodr. v. 3. p. 7. 



The interior of the germen is marked with eight or ten ridges, corresponding with the numher of ovules ; 

 these probably become more apparent as the fruit swells, giving the appearance which Louriero describes in 

 rather anomalous language, " bacca 8-locularis, monosperma." It is, however, only one-celled, and one- 

 seeded, as in the rest of the genus. The flower-buds are about the size of the seed of Vicia lathyroides. 



2. Memecylon nigrescens ; ramis teretibus, foliis ovato-ellipticis basi acutis apice obtuse 

 breviter acuminatis pergamaceis uninerviis nigrescentibus breve petiolatis, floribus minutis 

 numerosis in capitula globosa densa ad nodos infra folia sessilia digestis, germine uniloculari 

 8-10-ovulato. 



The whole head of flowers is scarcely so large as a small pea, and consists of at least forty or fifty flowers, 

 so minute as to render their structure difficult of determination. The torus appears to be grooved, as in the 

 last species, and the germen one-celled: but it is probable that these characters are common to most of the 

 genus, at least we have not been able to detect any true dissepiments in such species as we have examined. 

 The interior of the germen is, however, marked with ridges, which at first sight might induce one to suppose 

 that it contained more than one cell. 



Of the Order Granatem, Mr. Millett sends Punica Granatum,flore pleno. 



Ord. XXXII. COMBRETACE^. Brown. 



1. Quisqualis indica; pubescens, bracteis ovato-rhombeis aristato-acuminatis sub quoque 

 flore, petalis ovali-oblongis adpresse pubescentibus. De Cand. — Linn. Sp. PL p. 556. — 

 Rumph. Amb. 5. t. 38. Bot. Mag. t. 2033. Lam. III. t. 357. De Cand. Prodr. v. 3. p. 23. 



Of the Order Onagrarics, we possess from Mr. Millett and Mr. Vachell, Jussieua fruticosa, DC, and 

 J. repens, L., both from Lappas Island. 



Of the Order Lythrariece, we have beautiful specimens of Lagerstrcemia Indica, L., and L. Regina, Roxb. 



Ord. XXXIII. TAMARISCINEiE. Desv. 



1. Tamarix Chinensis ; ramis nutantibus, foliis minutissimis imbricatis acutis, spicis paiii- 

 culatis tenuibus longis, petalis linearibus erectis. De Cand. — Lour. Cochin, v. 1. p. 228. De 

 Cand. Prodr. v. 3. p. 96 T. Gallica b. Chinensis. Ehrenb. in Linn. v. 2. p. 267. 



The specimens before us are destitute of flowers, and will not permit us to decide whether or not 

 Ehrenberg is right in reducing it to T. Gallica. 



Ord. XXXIV. MELASTOMACE^. Juss. 



1. Melastoma Malabathricum ; fruticosum, ramulis tetragonis strigoso-asperis, foliis ellip- 

 tico-oblongis basi obtusis apice acutis integerrimis utrinque viridibus strigoso-scabris, corymbis 

 1-5-floris, calycis adpresse squamuloso-strigosi lobis ovatis acutis, staminibus alternis, con- 



