Descriptions of Malayan Plants, 



313 



XLIII. MELASTOMACEiE. 



I. On the Malayan Species of Melastoma. By William 

 Jack, M. D. Communicated by Robert Brown, Esq. 

 F. R. S. and L. S, 



Read April 16, 1822. 



The East Indian species of Melastoma have been little 

 investigated in their native soil ; and the few that are men- 

 tioned in botanical works have for the most part been so 

 imperfectly described, as to occasion much confusion. This 

 splendid genus has now become so extensive as to require 

 being subdivided; but to do this with due regard to the 

 natural series, and to the relative importance of the charac- 

 ters, would demand a critical examination of the whole, and 

 ampler means of reference than are accessible in India. I 

 shall therefore confine myself to such observations as have 

 been suggested by the Malayan species which I have had an 

 opportunity of examining. The whole of these have baccate 

 fruity and are therefore true Melastomcey as that genus is at 

 present constituted. They vary much in the number of their 

 stamina, but that number is constant in each species. They 

 all agree in having the ovula attached to placentae, which 

 project from the inner angle of the cells ; in the number of 

 the cells corresponding with the divisions of the flower ; in 

 the peculiar inflexion of the anthers before expansion ; and 

 in having polyspermous berries. The points of difference to 

 be principally attended to are the following : the similarity 

 or dissimilarity of the alternate anthers ; the number of the 

 stamina ; the anthers being with or without beaks, straight 

 or arcuate; the calyces being hispid or nearly smooth, and 

 having deciduous or persistent segments ; the ovary being 

 partially or completely adnate to the calyx. Of these charac- 

 ters, the only one which appears to me to point to a natural 

 division of the species is, that of the equality or inequality of 



2 R 



