Certain Melastomaceae of Surinam

Recent study of the copious material of Melastomaceae conserved in the Botanisch Museum en Herbarium at Utrecht has shown the existence of several undescribed species in Surinam and has given new ideas on the taxonomic status of a few other species. These results are presented below, in advance of the treatment of the family in the „Flora of Surinam”. Ernestia Pullei Gleason, sp. nov. Suffruticosa 4 dm. alta. Caulis purpureo-brunneus 4-angulatus dense glanduloso-pubescens, internodiis 10—15 mm. longis. Petioli graciles 5—10 mm. longi glanduloso-villosi. Laminae tenues ovatae usque ad 25 mm. longae 17 mm. latae acutae minutissime serrulatae basi cordulatae 5-nerviae, supra sparse minuteque glanduloso-pilosae, subtus dense cinereo-tomentellae. Paniculae magnae terminales ramosae 8—12 cm. longae multiflorae glanduloso-polisae, bracteis minimis oblongis. Florum 4- merorum non bene conservatorum structura difficiliter et fortasse non rite observanda. Hypanthium tubuloso-campanulatum 8-costatum dense glanduloso-pilosum. Sepala erecta triangularia acuta sparse glandulosa 1.6 mm. longa. Petala non visa. Stamina valde dimorpha. Filamenta glabra erecta gracilia 3-7 mm. longa. Antherae lineari-subulatae, staminum episepalorum horizontales 4.2 mm. longae, connectivo subtereti in semicirculum 1.5 mm. diam. curvato et supra insertionem filamenti in appendices 2 V-forme connatas dilatato, ad angulam externam appendicum inserto; appendicibus in angulo interno ad filamentum affixis, triangulari-subulatis 3.2 mm. longis, infra filamentum attenuatis in calcaria filiformia et interdum calcaribus similibus lateralibus 1 vel 2 ornatis; antherae staminum epipetalorum erectae 3.3 mm. longae, connectivo ad angulam 90° deflexo 1 mm. longo, infra insertionem filamenti calcaria 2 lineari-subulata erecta 1.7 mm. longa gerente. Ovarium superum, teste cl. Pulle in schedis 3-loculare, sed in uno dissecto distinctissime 4-loculare; stylo stigmateque non visis; seminibus cochleatis.