41 
and in the peculiar form of the anthers ; the cotyledons are those of Combre- 
tacese, to which the order approaches in many respects. The genus Mouriria 
has leaves with elevated dots, but on account of its conformity with this order 
in the structure of the anthers is admitted here. Brown considers it interme- 
diate between Myrtacese and Melastomacese.* 
Geography. All natives of the hottest parts of the East Indies and of the 
Mauritanian Islands, with the exception of the Mouririas, which are West 
Indian. 
Properties. The leaves of Memecylon edule form an ingredient in the 
dyes of Coromandel. The ripe berries, though somewhat astringent, are eaten 
by the natives. Royle. 
GENERA. 
Memecylon, L. Mouriria, Juss. Petalorna, Sw. Guildingia, Hooker. 
Valikaha, Adans. Mouriri, Aubl. Scutula, Lour. Fenzlia, Endl. 
I 
Order XXVIL MELASTOMACESE. 
Melastom^, Juss. Gen. p.328. (1789); Diet. Sc. Nat. 29. 507. (1823). — Melastomace^, 
Don in Mem. TVern. Soc. 4. 281. (1823) ; DC. Prodr. 3. 99. (1828) ; Memoire 
(1828) ; Bartl. Ad. Nat. p. 328. (1830) ; Blume in Botanisch. Zeit. (I833). 
Essential Character. — Calyx divided into 4, 5, or 6 lobes, cohering more or less 
with the angles of the ovary, but distinct from the surface between the angles, and thus 
forming a number of cavities, within which the young anthers are curved downwards. 
Petals equal to the segments of the calyx ; arising from their base, or from the edge of a 
disk that lines the calyx ; twisted in aestivation. Stamens usually twice as many as the 
petals, sometimes equal to them in number ; in the former case, those which are opposite 
the segments of the calyx are alone fertile; filaments curved downwards in aestivation; 
anthers long, 2-celled, usually bursting by two pores at the apex, and elongated in various 
ways beyond the insertion of the filament; sometimes bursting longitudinally; before 
flowering, contained within the cases between the ovary and sides of the calyx. Ovary 
more or less coherent with the calyx, with several cells, and indefinite ovules ; style 1 ; 
stigma simple, cither capitate or minute ; a cup often present upon the apex of the ovary, 
surrounding the style. Pericarp either dry and distinct from the calyx, or succulent and 
combined with the calyx, with several cells ; if dehiscent, bursting through the valves, 
which therefore bear the septa in the middle; placentce attached to a central column. 
Seeds innumerable, minute, with a brittle testa and no albumen ; usually with appendages 
of some kind ; embryo straight, or curved, with equal or unequal cotyledons. — Trees, shrubs, 
or herbaceous plants. opposite, undivided, usually entire, without dots, with several 
ribs. Flowers terminal, usually thyrsoid. 
Anomalies. Traces of pellucid dots in Diplogenea. Ovary more or less superior in 
several. Leaves sometimes not ribbed in Sonerila. Spathandra'- has an ovary with only 
one cell, in which there are from 7 to 8 ovules adhering to a central placenta. 
Affinities. “ The family of Melastomacese,” remarks De CandoUe, in an 
excellent memoir upon the subject, “ although composed entirely of exotic 
plants, and established at a period when but few species were known, is so well 
characterised, that no one has ever thought of putting any part of it in any 
other group, or even introducing into it genera that do not rightly belong to 
it.” These distinct characters are, the opposite leaves, with several great 
veins or ribs running from the base to the apex, something as in Monocotyle- 
donous plants, and the long beaked anthers ; to which peculiarities combined 
there is nothing to be compared in other families. Permanent, however, 
as these characters undoubtedly are, yet the cause of no uncertainty having 
been yet found in fixing the limits of the order, is rather to be attributed to 
* The order is reduced to Melastomacese in Linnwa, 10. 217. 
