102 
THALAMl FLORAE. 
ininore purpureo. Sloane, 1. t. 138. f. 2. 3. — Melochia frutes- 
cens, Browne , 276. — M. tomentosa, Swartz, Obs. 256. — II. B. 
et K until, V. 323 ? 
HAB. Dry situations. 
FL. After rains, about Autumn. 
A shrub about 5 feet in height: branches terete, slender, 
of a ferruginous colour, at their extremities tornentose. Leaves 
alternate, shortly petiolated, ovato-oblong (or ovato-lanceolate), 
rounded and subcordate at the base, obtuse, erenato-seiTated, 
hoary- tornentose with stellated hairs especially beneath. Sti- 
pules setaceo-subulate. Peduncle axillary shorter than the 
petiole, or subterminal, solitary, bearing about 4 shortly pedi- 
celled showy purple flowers in umbel. Calyx 5-partite ; divi- 
sions linear, acute. Petals 5. Filaments cohering for more 
than half their length : anthers oblong, didymous, yellow. 
Styles 5. Capsule angular. 
It is probable that our Jamaica plant may be different from 
that of the continent, as the specific character of De Candolle 
does not apply in every respect to that before us. When in 
flower, it is a very beautiful shrub, and deserving of a place in 
our gardens. 
2. * Melochia pyramidata. Pjjramidal-capsuled 
Melochia. 
Leaves ovato-lanceolate toothed glabrous, pedun- 
cles 5-6-flowered longer than the petiole, branches 
and petioles puberulous, pubescence generally ar- 
ranged in lines decurrent from the leaves. 
Abutilon herbaceum procumbens betonicae folio, Sloane, I. 
220. t. 139. f. 1. — Melochia herbacea tenuissima ramosa, Browne, 
276. — M. pyramidata, Swartz, Obs. 255. 
HAB. Road from Spanish-Town to St John’s. — Sloane. 
FL. ? 
Suffrutescent, about 2 feet long. Flowers purple. Capsule 
pyramidal, 5-sided, with the angles mucronate : cells 1 -seeded. 
VI. Riedleia. 
Calyx 5-fid, naked or calyculated with 1-3 bracteas. 
Petals 5, patent. Stamens 5, monadelphous at the 
base. Styles 5. Carpels 5 subconcrete into a 5- 
celled 5-valved subglobose capsule, at last distinct, 
opening by a longitudinal slit, cocciform, 1-2-seeded, 
with the central axis free. — De Cand. 
Flowers yellow or white. 
