166 HOT-HOUSE — OF REPOTTING, ETC. [May. 
moisture. .The other species goes under the name of oppo- 
siti/dlia, but we question if it is not only a variety, for 
it has every character of the one just described. (Soil No. 
'Malpighia (Barhadoes-cherry), about eighteen species,' all 
beautiful evergreen trees or shrubs. They are easily dis- 
tinguished by having bristles on the underside of the leaves. 
These bristles are fixed by the centre, so that either end 
of it will sting. We are not aware of any other plant being 
defended in this manner. 31. iircns has oblong, ovate 
leaves, with decumbent stiff bristles ; flowers pink. 31. aqui- 
fblia has lanceolate, stiff, spiny leaves, and we think the 
most beautiful foliage of the genus. 31. fuccita has elliptical 
shining leaves, with lilac flowers. M. glabra, leaves ovate, 
entire, smooth ; flowers purple. They all have five rounded 
clawed petals. The last species is cultivated in the West 
Indies for its fruit. The pots must be well drained. (Soil 
No. 17.) 
Merica, a genus of hot-house plants, closely allied to Iris, 
between which there is no distinction in the leaves. The 
flowers of 31. cceridea are beautifully spotted with light and 
dark blue, the scape many-flowered. 31. Sabini has flowers 
similar, but not so dark in colour. 31. Nortkiana has splen- 
did white and brown-spotted flowers, spathe two-flowered. 
These plants, when growing, require a liberal supply of 
water, and should be greatly encouraged by frequent potting 
to flower well. (Soil No. 12.) 
Melastoma was once an extensive genus, on which the 
natural order Mdastomacese is founded ; but is now much 
divided into other genera contained in the natural tribe 
31icomese. There are about thirteen species remaining in 
the genus. They now display great unity of character, and 
many of them may be considered very ornamental. The 
finest are 31. heteromaUa, bluish purple, and an abundant 
bloomer ; 31. ma/abdthrica, rose-coloured ; 31. samjitinea, 
lilac ; 31. splendens, large violet ; and 31. aspera, rose. 
There is a plant in several of our collections known as 31. 
2)urj)iirea and 31. tetraydno, which is Osssea purpurascens ; 
leaves ovate, lanceolate, acuminate, five-nerved, pilose ; the 
footstalk and nerves underside of the leaf covered with 
brown hairs ; stem four-sided ; flowers purple. All the 
