Ossaea
(named after Don Antonio de la Ossa, once Director of the Botanic Garden at Havannah, Cuba). SYN. Sagraea. ORD. Melastomaceoe. A rather large genus (about forty species) of stove shrubs or sub-shrubs, confined to tropical America. Flowers usually small, cymose or paniculate; petals four, rarely five. Leaves petiolate, opposite, and ternately whorled, rarely large, entire or slightly toothed. The undermentioned species--probably the only one in cultivation--requires treatment similar to Melastoma (which see). O. fascicularis (fascicled). fl. white, disposed in many-flowered fascicles; petals taper-pointed. l. 4in. to 6in. long, elliptical, tapering at the base, pointed, eminently triplinerved, ciliated and roughish on both sides with scattered, minute hairs. h. 6ft. to 10ft. Jamaica.