MARCE'TIA DECUSSA'TA. 
CROSS-LEAVED MARCETIA. 
EXOGEN^ 
OR 
DICOTYLEDONEi*. 
Natural division 
to which 
this Plant belongs. 
NATURAL ORDER, MELASTOMACEiE. 
CALl'CIFLORiE, 
OF 
DEEANDOLLE. 
Artificial divisions 
to which 
this Plant belongs. 
i 
OCTANDRIA, 
MONOGYNIA, 
OF L1NNF.TJS. 
No. 223 
GENUS. Marcetia. Decandolle. Calycis tubus obloiigusaut cylindra- 
ceusjlobis 4, lauceolatis. Petala 4, ovalia (ovata) acuta. Stamina 8 , aequalia 
(subaequalia); antheris basi bituberculatis, oblongis, l-porosis. Ovarium 
liberum, glabrum. Stylus filiformis. Stigma punctiforme. Capsula 4-val- 
vis, 4-locularis,calycis tubo circiter aequalis. Semina cochleata. Suffrutices 
Brasilienses. Rami teretes. Folia subcarnosa, oblonga, margine saepius revo- 
luta, basi cordata, brevissime aut vix petiolata, integerrima, saepe enervia. 
Flores axillares, solitarii, subsessiles, bibracteati, albi aut subrubentes. 
Decandolle Prodr. 3, 124. 
SPECIES. Marcetia decussata (^Decandolle) fruticosa, ramosa; 
foliis sessilibus, subcordatis, ovatis, obtusiusculis, integerrimis, basi trinervis, 
cum ramulis calycibusque pubescenti-velutinis; floribus axillaribus, pedicella- 
tis, 8-andris; calyx lobis lanceolato-subulatis tubo vix brevioribus, petalis ovali- 
bus, acutis; genit. longe exsertis. D C. 1. c. 
Character of the Genus, Marcetia. Tube of the calyx, ob¬ 
long or cylindrical, with four lanceolate lobes. Petals 4, oval (ovate) 
acute. Stamens 8 , equal, (subequal); anthers with two tubercles at 
the base, oblong, opening by a single pore. Ovarium free, glabrous. 
Style filiform. Stigma minute. Capsule 4-valvular, 4-celled, 
nearly equal to the tube of the calyx. Seeds cochleate. 
Description of the Species, Marcetia decussata. Shrub 
erect (nine inches high in the specimen described, but from native 
specimens evidently attaining the size of a small bush.) Stem much 
branched, round; bark brown, cracked, and exfoliating; branches 
erect; twigs four-sided, glanduloso-pubescent. Leaves (3| lines long) 
ovate, spreading, mucronulate, 3-nerved, pubescent on both sides, 
also with short tomentum below, dark green above, paler below, entire 
and revolute in the edges, middle-rib channelled in front, prominent 
behind. Flowers small, solitary, axillary, on pedicels shorter than 
the leaves, about the middle jointed, and there having two opposite 
leaf-like bracts, above this point turgid when in fruit. Perhaps it 
would be more correct to consider all below the joint a short axillary 
branch, with two leaves at the apex, and a terminal ebractiate single- 
flowered peduncle. Calyx urceolate, glanduloso-pubescent, without 
bracteoles, or rarely a small one, 4-toothed, teeth spreading, subulate. 
