314 Descriptions of Malayan Plants. 



the stamina, occasioned by the anthers being alternately pe- 

 dicellate and sessile on the filaments, as in Melastoma Ma- 

 labathrica, or being all sessile, as in M, exigua and others 

 here described. Those of the first division, with unequal 

 stamina, have generally large and beautiful flowers, hispid 

 calyces, with frequently deciduous segments, stamina always 

 double the number of petals, which are either five or four, 

 and arcuate rostrate anthers which, before the expansion of 

 the flower, have their beaks lodged in cells betwixt the calyx 

 and ovary. Those of the second division, with equal stamina, 

 have seldom such conspicuous flowers, have smoother caly- 

 ces, with segments generally persistent, eight stamina, rarely 

 or never ten, and occasionally only four ; anthers sometimes 

 neither arcuate nor rostrate, and their points in that case do 

 not reach before expansion below the summit of the ovary, 

 which is then completely adnate to the calyx. The genus 

 Maieta of Ventenat has been founded upon this latter 

 character alone ; but it is obviously insufficient for a generic 

 distinction, as it can only be considered secondary to that of 

 relative length of the anthers, on which depends the com- 

 plete or partial adhesion of the calyx and ovary : and a little 

 attention to the relations of the different species to each 

 other will show, that a division founded on this latter charac- 

 ter could not be established without great violence to their 

 natural affinities. The following species are arranged ac- 

 cording to the division now suggested. : — 



* Antheris alternis dissimilibus. (Melastoma). 



1. MELASTOMA OBVOLUTA. fW. J,J 



M. decandra, foliis ovatis quinquenerviis appresso-pilosis, 

 floribus S — 5 terminalibus, bracteis magnis, calycibus squa- 

 mosis laciniis ovatis deciduis. 



At Tappanooly on the West Coast of Sumatra. 



A small branched shrub. Branchlets somewhat four- 

 angled, covered with short reddish appressed scales. Leaves 



