eT Nn 
31 
- OSBECKIA NEPALENSIS. 
7 Nepal Osheckia. 
OCTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. ete up, ME LASTOMACE A, Brim 
MELASTOMA, Juss. 
GEN. Cuar.—Cal. 4-fidus ; lobis squama ciliari interstinctis. Cor. 4-5 pe- 
tala. Anthere rostrate. Caps. 4-5 locularis, calycis tubo truncato cincta. 
fiecept. compressum, semiovatum. shea « 8— —10). — Pers. 
Osbeckia nepalensis ; foliis lanceolatis sesilibus pays tubo dio. 
squam oso. 
Stem 14 foot high, erect, branched, ie AN A tach, with short ap- 
pressed hairs. Leaves opposite, sessile, lanceolate, coriaceous, rigid, de- 
flexed, with deep longitudinal nerves, the margin entire, the surface like 
that of the stem, rough, with oo hairs, and often marked with 
brown spots. 
Flowers large, handsome, in terminal and lateral siiary panicles or corymbs. 
Peduncles one or two inches long, square, as well as the short pedicels, 
- which latter are furnished with ovate bracteas. Calyx composed of 5 
caducous segments, tube ovate, green, covered with subquadrate ap- 
pressed scales, ciliated at the margin, and remarkably so at the extremity. 
Four or five of these scales terminate the tube, are spreading and doch q 
duous : the segments of the calyx are ovate, patent, yellow-green, smooth, 
ciliated at the margin. Corolla of 5 beautiful purplish rose-coloured, pa- 
tent, obovato-rounded petals, inserted at the mouth of the tube of the 
calyx, slightly waved, ciliated at the extremity, having a small erect tooth 
or scale at the centre of the base of each petal, and another alternating 
with the petals, (10 in all). Stamens 10, inserted likewise at the mouth 
of the tube.. Filaments slightly curved, yellowish, rather long. Anther 
long, yellow, curved, articulated with the filament, slightly corrugated 
transversely. Cells two, but united above into one lengthened tube, ha- 
ving a pore at the extremity whence the pollen is discharged. Pastil: 
 Germen ovate, immersed in the calyx, and attached to it by 10 longitu- 
dinal lines (Fig. 7.), 5-celled, 5-lobed, and hairy at the top. Style as 
long as the filaments, red, caducous. Stigma ovate, pubescent, green. 
Capsule opening by 5 longitudinal pores, and remaining inclosed within 
the tube of the calyx. 
Only two species of Osbeckia (O. chinensis and O. zeyla- 
nica) appear to have been known, until Sir JaMEs SmirH de- 
VOL. £1 / | 
. 
z 
* 
ig 
