31 
OSBECKIA NEPALENSIS. 
Nepal Osbeckia, 
OCTANDRIA MONOGYNIA Nat. Oud. MELASTOMACEM, Br — 
MELASTOMjE, Juss. 
Gen. Char. — Cal. 4-ficliis; lobis squama ciliari interstinctis. Cor. 4-5 pe- 
tala. Atilhcrw rostrata?. Crtjw. 4—5 locularis, calycis tubo truncato cincta. 
Eecept. compressum, semiovatum. (Stam. 8-10). — Pcrs. 
Osbeckia nepalensis; foliis lanceolatis sessilibus, calycis tubo ciliato- 
squamoso. 
Stem 1^ foot high, erect, branched, quadrangular, rough, with short ap- 
pressed hairs. Leaves opposite, sessile, lanceolate, coriaceous, rigid, de- 
flexed, with deep longitudinal nerves, the margin entire, the surface like 
that of the stem, rough, with appressed hairs, and often marked with 
brown spots. 
Flowers large, handsome, in terminal and lateral axillary panicles or corymbs. 
Peduncles one or two inches long, square, as well as the short pedicels, 
which latter are furnished with ovate bracteas. Cah/x composed of 5 
caducous segments, tube ovate, green, covered with subquadrate ap- 
pressed scales, ciliated at the margin, and remarkably so at the extremity. 
Four or five of these scales terminate the tube, are spreading and deci- 
duous : the segments of the calyx are ovate, patent, yellow-green, smooth, 
ciliated at the margin. Corolla of 5 beautiful purplish rose-coloured, pa- 
tent, obovato-rounded petals, inserted at the mouth of the tube of the 
calyx, slightly waved, ciliated at the extremity, having a small erect tooth 
or scale at tlie centre of the base of each petal, and another alternating 
with the petals, (10 in all). Stamens 10, inserted likewise at the mouth 
of the tube. Filamejits slightly curved, yellowish, rather long. Anther 
long, yellow, curved, articulated with the filament, slightly corrugated 
transversely. Cells two, but united above into one lengthened tube, ha- 
ving a pore at the extremity whence the pollen is discharged. Pistil: 
Germcn ovate, immersed in the calyx, and attached to it by 1 0 longitu- 
dinal lines (Fig. 7-)j 5-celled, 5-lobed, and hairy at the top. Style as 
long as the filaments, red, caducous. Stigma ovate, pubescent, green. 
Capsule opening by 5 longitudinal pores, and remaining inclosed within 
the tube of the calyx. 
Only two species of Osheckia (O. chinensis and O. zeyla- 
nica) appear to have been known, until Sir James Smith de- 
VOL. I. 
