“ In a considerable part of the species published in the 
« monograph of Ruaexra, by M. Bonpland, and in some 
“ other genera of the Melastomacew, the manner in which 
“ the germen is connected with the tube of the calyx is pe- 
“culiar. This cohesion, instead of extending uniformly 
’ © over the whole surface, is limited to 10 longitudinal equi- 
“¢ distant lines or membranous processes, apparently origin- 
ating from the surface of the germen; the interstices 
“ which are tubular, and gradually narrowing towards the 
“ base, being entirely free. 
“ The function of these tubular interstices is as remark- 
“able as their existence. 
“In Melastomacew, before the expansion of the corolla, 
“ the tops of the filaments are inflected, and the antherze are 
« pendulous, and parallel to the lower or erect portion of 
“¢ the filament; their tips reaching either to the line of com- 
*¢ plete cohesion between the calyx and germen, where that 
« exists; or, where this cohesion is partial, and such as I 
“have now described, being lodged in the tubular inter- 
s stices; the points extending to the base of the germen. 
“ From these sheaths, to which they are exactly adapted, 
< the antheree seem to be disengaged in consequence of the 
* unequal growth of the different parts of the filament; the 
«inflected portion ceasing to increase in length at an early 
“ period, while that below the curvature continues to elon- 
« gate considerably until the extrication is complete, when 
« expansion takes place. 
“Tt igsingular that this mode of cohesion between the ger~ 
« men and the calyx in certain genera of Melastomacee, and 
“ the equally remarkable zestivation of the antherze accom- 
* pnanying it, should have been universally overlooked, espe- 
« cjally in the late monograph of M. Bonpland; as both the 
< structure and economy certainly exist in some, and proba- 
< bly in the greater part of the plants which that author has 
« figured and described as belonging to Rugxta.” 
Swartz describes the present shrub as growing, On its 
native spot, to the height of a man. Stem upright, 
branched, smooth; branches upright, cylindrically angular, 
smooth. Leaves petioled, decussatedly opposite, lanceo. 
lately ovate, acuminate or long-pointed, entire, five-nerved, 
veined, smooth on both sides, thinner than usual in the 
sometimes slightly wrinkled at the under side, some- 
genus, 
Racemes terminal, © 
what shining, of a deep full green colour. 
compound, upright, decussately panicled. 
