826 Descriptions of Malayan Plants. 



Osbeckia tetrandra. Roxb, Cat, Hort. Beng. p. 88. 

 Tuniong utan. Malay. 

 Abundant at Pulo Penang. 



A shrub of considerable height, with stellulate pubes- 

 cence. Branches spreading, round, pubescent. Leaves 

 opposite, short-petioled, recurved, ovate-oblong, cordate at 

 the base, acuminate, entire, very smooth, thinly sprinkled 

 beneath with stellulate hairs, somewhat rigid, five-nerved, 

 with prominent transverse veins. Petioles short, tomentose, 

 channelled above and ciliate on the edges, connected by 

 an interpetiolar line. Stipules none. Panicles terminal, 

 with opposite divaricate ramifications, glaucous thrgoighout. 

 Bracts ovate, acute, ciliate. Calyx oblong, smooth, glau- 

 cous, ccerulescent above. Limb entire. Corolla of a delicate 

 blue, four-petalled, spreading ; petals ovate, acuminate. 

 Stamina four fertile, ascending ; filaments appendiculate at 

 the apex ; anthers long, much curved, rostrate, opening by 

 a pore at top ; besides these there are two abortive filaments. 

 Ovary connected to the calyx by four septa, between which 

 the beaks of the anthers are lodged before expansion, four- 

 celled, polysporous; placentae from the inner angles of the 

 cells. Style reddish, longer than the stamina. Stigma 

 simple. Berry of a fine glaucous-purple colour, ovate, four- 

 celled, many-seeded. 



Obs. — This is a handsome shrub, easily distinguished by 

 the glaucous tint of its panicles, and in general appearance 

 has considerable resemblance to the preceding. Only four 

 stamina are here fertile, but they are accompanied by two 

 small filaments without anthers. The leaves are of a deep 

 green, rather rigid, with strongly-marked nerves and veins. 

 While young, both surfaces are sprinkled with stellulate 

 pubescence, which is easily rubbed ofi*, and disappears with 

 age. The appendages of the stamina are in the form of 

 rounded auricles. 



