VIII, c, 6 Merrill: Philippine Melastomataceae, II 343 
8. ASTRONIA DIOICA sp. nov. 
Species distinctissima, dioica vel polygamo-dioica ; foliis ovato- 
ellipticis vel oblongo-ellipticis, usque ad 30 cm longis, nitidis, 
supra glabris, subtus densissime cupreo-lepidotis, apice breviter 
acuminatis, basi decurrentibus, 5- vel 7-plinerviis; inflorescentiis 
brevibus, confertis, bracteolis lineari-lanceolatis ; floribus $ 
5-meris. 
A tree about 10 m high, dioecious or polygamo-dioecious, the 
branches terete, brown, glabrous, the growing parts, petioles, 
lower surfaces of the leaves and the inflorescence very densely 
cupreous-lepidote. Leaves opposite, chartaceous to subcoria- 
ceous, ovate-elliptic to oblong-elliptic, 17 to 30 cm long, 3 to 13 
cm wide, the upper surface glabrous, greenish when dry, shining, 
the lower cupreous, shining, the apex rather abruptly short- 
acuminate, the base narrowed and more or less decurrent along 
the petiole ; nerves sub-basal, 5 or 7, the marginal ones faint, the 
inner two pairs reaching the apex, the innermost pair leaving the 
midrib at from 1 to 3 cm above the base, more prominent than 
the others, the transverse nervules distant, slender, distinct on 
the lower surface ; petioles 1.5 to 3 cm long, more or less winged 
by the decurrent lamina. Inflorescence terminal, peduncled, the 
whole 4 to 5 cm long, often trichotomous, all parts cupreous- 
lepidote, the flowers numerous, densely crowded; bracts lanceo- 
late, narrowed at both ends, acuminate, about 12 mm long, 4 to 5 
mm wide, the bracteoles linear-lanceolate, more or less curved, 
6 to 7 mm long, 1 to 1.3 mm wide. Flowers 5-merous, only the 
staminate ones seen. Calyx cupreous, shallowly cup-shaped, 3 
to 3.5 mm in diameter, 2 mm long, the teeth 5, rarely 6, trian- 
gular, acute or somewhat acuminate, about 1 mm long, 1.5 mm 
wide at the base. Petals 5, imbricate, suborbicular to orbicular- 
ovate, about 2.5 mm long. Stamens 10, the filaments broad, flat, 
about 1 mm long. Ovary entirely wanting. 
Leyte, Mount Ibuni, near Dagami, Bur. Sci. 15293 Ramos, August, 1912, 
in damp forests. 
A most characteristic species, distinguishable by its leaves being green 
above and densely cupreous-lepidote beneath, its dense, cupreous-lepidote 
inflorescences, and its long bracts and bracteoles. 
9. ASTRONIA RAMOSII sp. nov. 
Arbor parva, circiter 8 m alta, A. cumingianae Vid. affinis, 
differt foliis paullo majoribus, basi 5-plinerviis, nervis interiori- 
bus transversalibusque valde prominentibus. 
A small tree about 8 m high, the branches terete, grayish, 
glabrous, the branchlets and inflorescence more or less furfura- 
