308 Descriptions of Malaijan Plants. 



RHODAMNIA CINEREA. 



Frequent on the Western coast of Sumatra and the is- 

 lands which skirt it. Its Malay name is Marpuyan. Common 

 about Malacca, — W. G, 



There are two varieties of this species, the one of which 

 is larger than the other, and has broader leaves which are 

 more decidedly tomentose below. These differences are 

 scarcely sufficient for a specific distinction. 



A small tree with greyish wrinkled bark and pilose branch- 

 lets. Leaves opposite and alternate, petiolate, roundish- 

 ovate in the large variety, and broad lanceolate in the small 

 one, acuminate, very entire, three-nerved, often with a less 

 distinct pair near the margin, smooth above, somewhat hoary 

 beneath, pubescent, particularly on the nerves, but in the 

 small variety nearly smooth, with little more than a glaucous 

 tinge on the under surface. Petioles short, tomentose. 

 Stipules small, linear. Peduncles short, axillary, one-flower- 

 ed. Flowers white. Calyx tomentose, persistent. Corolla 

 twice as long as the calyx. Stamina inserted on the calyx, 

 almost as long as the corolla. Ovary one-celled, containing 

 many ovula attached to two parietal placentae. Style one, 

 erect. Berry reddish, subglobose, crowned with the calyx, 

 one- celled, containing a few seeds attached to the parietes, 

 many of the ovula proving abortive. 



Obs» — This genus which is nearly related to Myrtus, ap- 

 pears to be sufficiently distinguished by its ovary and pla- 

 centation, from which, rather than from the fruit, the most 

 important characters in this family are to be derived. It is 

 peculiar in having three-nerved leaves, in which particular it 

 has a resemblance to Myrtus Tomentosa, but differs widely 

 from that species in its fruit and ovary. 



