Descriptions of Malayan Plants, 



321 



8. MELASTOMA EXIGUA. (W. J.) 

 Tab. I. fig. 2, a—f, 

 M. octandra, paniculis terminalibus, foliis longe petiolatis 

 ovatis acuminatis glabris quinquenerviis, calyce quadridentato. 

 Native of Pulo Penang. 



An erect branched shrub, with brownish bark and four- 

 sided branches, sparingly sprinkled with rusty down. Leaves 

 large, opposite, long-petioled, ovate, acuminate, acute at the 

 base, aljuost entire, smooth, five-nerved, with strong trans- 

 verse reticulated veins. Petioles long, channelled above, 

 smooth. Stipules none. Panicles terminal, erect, small, 

 with opposite divaricate ramifications. Flowers small and 

 inconspicuous. Calyx inferior, tubular, connected with the 

 base of the ovary by eight septa; limb erect, four-toothed. 

 Petals four, small, white with a tinge of red, ovate, acute. 

 Stamina eight, nearly erect, the alternate ones a little 

 shorter. Anthers purple, erect, linear, acute, emarginate at 

 the base (neither curved, rostrate, nor appendiculate). Style 

 ascending, as long as the stamina. Stigma simple. Fruit 

 small, dry, ovate-oblong, four-celled, many-seeded ; the pla- 

 centae from the axis. 



Obs, — This species is remarkable by its very small flowers 

 disposed in a divaricate open panicle, and the comparatively 

 large size of its leaves. The fruit might perhaps properly 

 be considered a capsule, as it appears to be destitute of 

 pulp. The gradations from a berry to a capsule in this 

 family are such, that it is difficult to draw the line of dis- 

 tinction ; and it seems questionable whether this difference, 

 when unsupported by other characters, can be considered 

 of generic value. 



9. MELASTOMA ROTUNDIFOLIA. (W. J.) 

 M. octandra, fofiis maximis subrotundis septemnerviis, 

 floribus capitatis involucratis. 

 Segoonil. Malay, 



2 s 



