ON THE MELASTOMACE^. 
the appearance of a berry, as in Melastoma^ Micmiia, Sec, 
and the seeds appear as if imbedded in a pulp. The seeds 
are destitute of albumen ; they are reniform in Melastoma, 
Rheooiay Sec, but mostly ovate, or oblong- cylindricaL 
The shell or covering in most cases is double. The embryo 
corresponds with the figure of the seeds; in those with 
reniform seeds it is arcuate, and in those with ovate or 
oblong seeds it is straight. The greater part of the plants 
of this family have berried capsules, which are very juicy, 
and of an agreeable sweet taste; some, such as those of 
Blakea qumquenervis, grow to a great size, and equal that 
of a pomegranate. In Guiana, Brazil, and other countries^ 
where the Melastomacece abound, the berries are eagerly 
sought after, and eaten by the children of the native tribes. 
The Melastomaceas abound in all tropical countries, but 
especially in the Islands and Continent of the New World. 
The genera iJficowi^, Axinasa^ Blakea, Chitonia, Tococa, 
Meriania, Pleroma^ Rhexia, MicroUcia, Clidemia, Crema- 
nium, &c. appear to be exclusively confined to it. On the 
contrary, Melastoma and OshecMa are common to both 
Continents : to the former genus, I have referred the Ti- 
bouchina, Aub. t, 177., and Tristemma, Juss. Rhexla is 
the only extratropical genus in the whole order, being sole- 
ly confined to North America: its species are also all 
dwarfish herbaceous perennials, or annuals. The only other 
genus, in which herbaceous plants are found, is Osbeckia, 
which consists of shrubs and annuals. The other genera 
all consist of either trees or shrubs. The whole order 
agrees, however, in having opposite, undivided, mostly 
petiolated, leaves, with three, five, or rarely seven, nerves 
running through them. The flowers are mostly terminal, 
panicled, racemose, or corymbose, rarely capitate : in 
Blakea and Meriania, they are axillary and solitary, on 
long peduncles. Nupibcr, in the parts of the flower or 
