86 FLORA VITIENSIS. 
* rT : r 
new genus, as the other genera named in honour of M. Naudin do not stand. The synonymy of the 
two plants would then be as follows :— 
. TT Neudinia glabra, Dene. mss, ; Melastoma glabra, Forst, Prodr, n, 194, nec Herb, et Icon, (ined.) 
: at : "3 : Ve i stronia Forstert 
nec Guill. Zephyr, Tait. Conostegia glabra, Don in Mem. Wern. Soe. vol. iv. p. 316. Astronia 2, 
Naud, in Sic 86, Nat. 3 Ser. tom. xviii, p. 258, ex parte.—Tahiti (W. Anderson! anno 1774, Captain 
Cook !). ; 
2 Astronia fraterna, A. Gray, Bot. Wilkes, p. 576. t. 72. A. Melastoma glabra, Yorst. Herb, Icon. 
(ined.) t. 137, 188, et in Guill. Zeph. Tahit. p. 61, nee Prodr. Astronia Horstert, Naud. |,c, p. 258, ex 
parte.—Tahiti (Forster! in Herb. Mus. Brit.), 
2, A. Pickeringii, A. Gray, Bot. Wilkes, p. 577. t. 72; glabra; foliis longe petiolatis ovalibus 
oblongisve utrinque subacutis nunc basi obtusis 3-5-nerviis; cyma corymbosa composita laxiflora; 
pedicellis gracilibus ; alabastris subglobosis; calycis limbo clauso demum aperto ultra ovarium lon- 
giuscule producto, margine in deutibus brevissimis 9-20 irregulariter fisso; antherarum connectivo 
deorsum gibboso; ovario 5-loculari; placentis e fundo loculorum ortis—Ovalau, on the mountains 
(U.S, Expl. Exped.), Viti Levu, in woods (Milne!). Also collected in the Samoan Islands (U. 8. 
Expl. Exped.). 
Var. Vitiensis, A. Gray, 1, c.; inflorescentia glabriore; pedicellis panllo brevioribus. 
Milne’s are fruiting specimens, only the remnant of the berry remaining. The foliage has turned 
almost black in drying. 
3. 4. confertiflora, A. Gray, Bot. Wilkes, p. 579; foliis longe petiolatis ovalibus obtusis basi 
rotundatis 8—5-nerviis, costis subtus ramulisque junioribus cum cyma composita corymbosa conferti- 
flora rufo-pubesceutibus ; Horibus in ramulis ultimis capitato-congestis subsessilibus ; calyce glandulis 
rnfis consperso, limbo ultra ovarium brevitér producto, margine irregulariter 8-10-crenato; ovario 
3—4-loculari; placentis e fundo loculorum ortis.—Bua Bay, Vanua Levu, on the banks of streams 
(U.S, Expl. Exped.). : 
4, 4. tomentosa, (sp. nov.) Seem.; fruticosa v, arbuscula; ramulis junioribus petiolis bracteis 
cymis calycibusque dense ferruginco-tomentosis, demum glabratis; foliis ovatis vy. subcordato-ovatis 
obtuse acuminatis 3-5-nerviis v. 8-5-plinerviis, supra glabris, subtus dense ferrugineo-tomentosis, 
demum glabratis ; cymis corymbosis compositis, bracteis lincaribus; alabastris globosis, calyce irre- 
gulariter rumpente? ; ovario 5-loculari; placentis e fundo loculorum ortis; seminibus oo subacicula- 
riformibus.—Summit of Voma Peak, near Namosi, interior of Viti Levu (Seemann! n. 174). 
A shrub or small tree, with stiff, generally fistulose obtusely and obscurely 4-angular branches. 
Petioles 1-14 inch long. Blade of leaf 23-3 inches long, 1-13 inch broad. My flowering specimens being 
im very young bud, the dehiscence of the calyx eannot be satisfactorily ascertained. Capsule, as in other 
species, not properly dehiscent, but the dry epicarp decays or falls away in fragments, and the thin 
sate on into numerous pieces, leaving a frame of simple or forked nerves, which surround the placenta 
and columella, 
o. AA. (*) robusta, (sp. nov.) Seem.; fruticosa, erecta, robusta, glabra; ramis crassis fistulosis 
foliis obovato-oblongis v, ovalibus acutis in petiolum attenuatis integerrimis 3-5-plinerviis, supra 
atro-viridibus, subtus pallidioribus; cymis paniculatis terminalibus, rachi pedunculis pedicellisque 
suhcompressis; pedunculis ultimis 3-floris; floribus ignotis; eapsula subglobosa infera 7—-8-loculari 
calycis limbo irregulariter fisso coronata; placentis e fundo loculorum ortis ; seminibus co subdolabri- 
formibus; raphe laterali nigro. Banks of the Rewa river, near Namosi, interior of Viti Levu (See- 
mann! n, 181), 
A. robust plant, 4-6 feet high, with stout fistulose branches, of which I collected fruiting specimens 
only, whilst the United States Exploring Expedition (as Professor A. Gray advises me) brought home the 
foliage only. I haye provisionally referred it to Astronia, with which it agrees in habit and fruit, unless 
exception is taken to the latter being 7-8-celled. Pctioles 13-2 inches long. Leaves: opposite; blade 
4-10 inches long, 4-7 broad. Fruit as large as a sloe, and deeaying like that of the preceding species. 
There is a specimen of an Astronia in young fruit, collected by Harvey in Viti, which may possibly be a 
