MEDINILLA.  Between  two  and  three
dozen  species  of  this  genus  of  Mclastoma-
cea  have  been  described,  all  from  the  is-
lands of  the  Indian  Ocean.  They  are  shrub-
by plants,  generally  quite  smooth,  with
opposite  or  whorled  entire  fleshy  leaves,
the  primary  nerves  of  which  are  strongly
marked  and  often  coloured,  and  having
panicles  of  rose  or  white  flowers,  the  cali-
ces  and  stalks  of  which  are  nearly  always
reddish.  The  principal  characters  of  the
genus  reside  in  the  limb  of  the  calyx  being
entire  or  at  most  obsoletely  lobed,  and  in
the  stamens,  of  which  there  are  eight  or
ten  (double  the  number  of  the  floral  enve-
lopes), having  basal-fixed  generally  incur-
ved anthers  with  two  lobes  or  spurs  at  the
bottom  In  front  and  one  behind.  M.  mag-
n</Iea  is  a  truly  .magnificent  plant.  CA.S.]

MEDIOCRE.  Intermediate  between  large
and  small.
MEDLAR.  MespUuB  germanUM.  Tlie
Medlar  of  Surinam  Is  said  to  be  a  sapota-
ceous  plant.  — ,  JAPAN,  m^iobotrya  jo-
poniea.
MBDORA.  A  genus  of  LUiacece,  of  the
tribe  Aeparaginea,  founded  on  the  Bniila-
cina/tuca  of  NepaL  It  has  a  creeping  rhi-
zome, an  erect  simple  stem,  stalked  cordate-
ovate  acuminate  leaves,  and  terminal  di-
chotomous  many-flowered  peduncles  of
long-etalked  flowers,  nearly  racemose  on
the  ultimate  divisions.  The  perianth  is


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deciduous,  of  six  violet  leaves  with  a  green
spot  above  the  middle.  [J.  T.  a]

MEDRINAQUB.  A  coarse  fibre  from  the
Philippines,  obtained  from  the  Sago  palm,
and  used  chieQy  for  stiflenlng  dress  lin-
ings, St.
MEDULLA,  (adj.  MEDULLARY).  Tb©
pith ;  that  central  column  of  <»llular  matter
over  whl^  the  wood  Is  formed  in  Erogena.
