42 
the small number of species that have been examined, than to the want of con- 
necting links : thus Diplogenea has traces of the dots of Myrtaceae, which were 
not known to exist in Melastomacese until that genus was described ; several 
genera are now described with a superior ovary, a structure which was at one 
time supposed not to exist in the order ; and, finally, in the remarkable genus 
Sonerila, the leaves are sometimes not ribbed. 
The greatest affinity of Melastomacese is on the one hand with Lythraceae, 
on the other with Myrtaceae and their allies ; from the former they difier in 
the aestivation of their calyx not being valvate, from the latter in having the 
petals twisted before expansion and no dots on the leaves, and from both, and 
all others to which they can be compared, in their long anthers bent down pa- 
rallel to the filaments in the flower, and lying in niches between the calyx and 
ovary ; with the exception of Memecylaceae, in which, however, the union be- 
tween the calyx and ovary is complete, and which have leaves destitute of the 
lateral ribs that so strongly point out Melastomaceae. Tlie structure of the 
seeds of Memecylaceae is also difierent. 
Geography. Found neither in Europe nor in Africa north of the desert 
of Zahara, nor south of Brazil in South America, nor in extra- tropical Africa 
to the south. Beyond the tropics, 8 are found in the United States, a few in 
China and the northern provinces of India, and 3 in New Holland. Of the 
remainder, it appears that 78 are described from India or the Indian Archipe- 
lago, 12 from Africa and the adjacent islands, and 620 from America, accord- 
ing to De Candolle ; but this computation now requires some correction. 
Properties. A slight degree of astringency is the prevailing character of 
the order, which, although one of the most extensive known, is entirely desti- 
tute of any unwholesome species. The succulent fruit of many is eatable ; 
that of some dyes the mouth black, whence the name of Melastoma. Blakea 
triplinervia produces a yellow fruit, which is pleasant and eatable, in the woods 
of Guiana. Hamilt. Prodr. 42. 
Tribe I. MELASTOME^, DC. 
§ 1. LAVOISIEREiE, DC. 
Meriania, Sw. 
Axinsea, R. et P. 
Chastensea, DC. 
Lavoisiera, DC. 
Davy a, DC. 
Graffenrieda, DC. 
Jucunda, Cham. 
Centronia, Don. 
Truncaria, DC. 
Rhynchanthera, DC. 
Macairea, DC. 
Bucquetia, DC. 
Cambessedesia, DC. 
Chaetostoma, DC. 
Salpinga, Mart. 
Bertolania, Raddi. 
Triblemma, R. Br. 
Meisneria, R. Br. 
§ 2. Rhexie^, DC. 
Appendicularia, DC. 
Comolia, DC. 
Spennera, Mart. 
Microlicia, Don. 
Fritzschia, Cham. 
Ernestia, DC. 
Siphanthera, Pohl. 
Dicrananthera, Presl. 
Rhexia, L. 
Heteronoma, DC. 
Pachyloma, DC. 
Oxyspora, DC. 
Tricentrum, DC. 
Marcetia, DC. 
Trembleya, DC. 
Adelobotrys, DC. 
§ 3. Osbeckiea;, DC. 
Lasiandra, DC. 
Chaetogastra, DC. 
Svitramia, Cham. 
Arthrostemma, Pav. 
Pternandra, Jack. 
Osbeckia, L. 
Pyramia, Cham. 
Tibouchina, Aubl. 
Savastenia, Neck. 
Tristemma, Juss. 
Melastoma, Burm. 
Otanthera, Bl. 
Pleroma, Don. 
Lachnopodium, Bl. 
Diplostegium, Don. 
Aciotis, Don. 
§ 4. Miconie.®, DC. 
Rousseauxia, DC. 
Leandra, Raddi. 
Tschudya, DC. 
Clidemia, Don. 
Myriaspora, DC. 
Tococa, Aubl. 
Majeta, Aubl. 
Calophysa, DC. 
Medinilla, Gaudich. 
Pogonanthera, Bl. 
AUomorphia, Bl. 
Pachycentria, Bl. 
Triplectrum, Don. 
Huberia, DC. 
Behuria, Cham. 
Ochthocharis, Bl. 
Calycogonium, DC. 
Ossaea, DC. 
Sagrsea, DC. 
Tetrazygia, Rich. 
Dissochaeta, Bl. 
Aplectrum, Bl. 
Heterotrichum, DC. 
Conostegia, Don. 
Diplogenea, Lindl. 
Diplochita, DC. 
Chitonia, Don. 
Fothergilla, Aubl. 
Phyllopus, DC. 
Henriettea, DC. 
Marumia, Bl. 
Creochiton, Bl. 
Phyllagathis, Bl. 
Loreya, DC. 
Miconia, R. et P. 
Oxymeris, DC. 
Cremanium, Don. 
Blakea, L. 
Topobea, Aubl. 
Valdesia, R. et P. 
? Belinda, Neck. 
? Drepanandrum, N. 
§ 5. SONERILEiE. 
Sonerila, Roxb. 
Sarcopyramis, Wall. 
Cyathanthera, Pohl. 
Noterophila, Mart. 
