404 



RUMPHIUS'S HERBARIUM AMBOINENSE 



thum Blume as currently interpreted, although the limits of 

 Blume's species and the differential characters by which it can 

 be distinguished from other forms are not at all clear. Lin- 

 naeus originally reduced Fragarius niger Rumph. to Melastoma 

 octandrum Linn., in Stickman Herb. Amb. (1754) 17, Amoen. 

 Acad. 4 (1759) 127, an entirely erroneous disposition of it. 

 Later, Mant. 2 (1771) 381, he transferred it to Melastoma 

 malabathricum Linn., to which Melastoma polyanthum Blume is 

 certainly closely allied. This reduction has been accepted by 

 numerous authors, including Cogniaux in the latest monograph 

 of the family, DC. Monog. Phan. 7 (1891) 349. Loureiro placed 

 it with doubt under Melastoma septemnerve Lour., and Blume 

 himself transferred it to Melastoma polyanthum BL, the latter 

 certainly the most satisfactory position for it. 



Another specimen from Amboina, Rel. Robins. 2027, from 

 Kati-kati, altitude 80 meters, may represent a form of Melas- 

 toma polyanthum Blume, and at the same time may represent 

 Fragarius niger Rumph., at least in part. It differs from the 

 specimen cited above under Melastoma polyanthum Blume in 

 its somewhat longer calyx -lobes and in other minor characters. 



MELASTOMA sp. 



Fragarius ruber grandifolius Rumph. Herb. Amb. 4: 136. 

 Amboina, Mahiya, Robinson PL Rumph. Amb. 511, October 3, 1913, in 

 light woods at an altitude of about 350 meters. 



The specimen almost certainly represents the form described 

 by Rumphius as Fragarius ruber grandifolius, and at the same 

 time probably represents an undescribed species of Melastoma. 

 Unfortunately incomplete material is represented, the petals 

 and stamens having fallen. The branches, branchlets, and 

 leaves are supplied with scattered, minute, appressed scales, 

 and the calyx-tube is densely covered with pale, spreading, 

 curved, linear-lanceolate, acuminate, long, very slightly fimbriate, 

 rather stiff paleae. The flowers are terminal and solitary. It 

 seems to be most closely allied to the Philippine Melastoma 

 lanaense Merr., but is very different from that species. 



M EDI N I LLA Gaudichaud 



M EDI N I LLA CRISPATA (Linn.) Blume in Flora 14 (1831) 517. 



Melastoma crispatum Linn. Sp. PI. ed. 2 (1762) 560 (type!). 

 Funis muraenarum mas Rumph. Herb. Amb. 5: 66, t. 35, f. 1. 



Amboina, Kati-kati and Gelala, Robinson PI. Rumph. Amb. 509, 510, 

 October 19 and September 19, 1913, climbing on trees, altitude 40 to 70 

 meters. 



