The flowers vary on the same individual from with four 
to five, and even’ six petals, and from with eight to ten sta- 
mens. It was observed by Osbeck and Loureiro growing 
wild about Canton, and is mentioned by the first as an 
article of the chinese pharmacy. 
On the limits, structure, and generic division of the Me- 
lastomacec, the order where our plant belongs, Mr. Brown 
offers the three following remarks. 
«Ist. The Mremecyzon, as M. du Petit Thouars had 
“already suggested, and Peratoma of Swartz both belong 
“to this order, and connect it with Myrtacewe, from which 
“ lands of the leaves and of other parts, existing in all the 
“ genera really belonging to that extensive family.” 
“‘ Odly. There are very few Melastomacece in which the 
“‘ germen does not in some degree cohere with the tube of 
“ the calyx; Muriana properly so called, being, perhaps, 
“ the only exception.” 
«« And in the greater number of instances where, though 
‘the germen is coherent, the fruit is distinct, it becomes 
“ so from the laceration of the connecting processes already 
“ described;” (see vol. 5. fol. 363 (overleaf) of this Register). 
“ 3dly. That the generic divisions of the whole order re- 
< main to be established. On examination, I believe, it will 
“ be found that the original species of the Linnean genera, 
«“ Meuastoma and RueExia, possess generic characters suf- 
“ ficiently distinguishing from the greater part of the plants 
“ that have been since added to them by various authors. 
“¥n consequence of these additions, however, their bota- 
“ nical history has been so far neglected, that probably no 
“ genuine species of Mxtasroma, and certainly none of 
«© Ruexta, has yet been published in M. Bonpland’s splendid 
“and valuable monographs, of these two genera.” Brown 
bot. of Congo. 17. vines 
The corrugation of the lower part of the cells of the ma- 
ture anther, seems the effect of a kind of peristaltic contrac- 
tion for the expulsion of the grumously fluid pollen, by the 
orifice of the pipe at the end of the anther. 
Drawn in April last, in the hothouse at Messrs. Colvill’s, 
in the King’s Road, Chelsea. Haast 
* they are distinguished only by the absence of the pellucid — 
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