Picrasma SIMAROUBACEAE-POLYGALACEAE Polygala 



axillary cymes; stamens 4-5; carpels 2-5, becoming drupe-like in fr. 8 species, tropical 

 and subtropical; 1 in China. (Greek: picrasmos, bitterness, referring to the bitter 

 bark.) 



1. Picrasma quassioides Benn. Asiatic Quassia ^ftf (K'u Shu; Bitter Tree) (R.M. 

 531). Tree, to 10 m.; fls. V-VI; fr. drupe-like, IX; brts. with conspicuous yellow 

 lenticels. Eastern Asia; locally in An., Che., Ki., Ku. Woodland. Fig. 203. 



89. MELIACEAE Mahogany Family WP\ (Lien K'o) 



Trees or shrubs with alternate estipulate bi-pinnate, or tri-pinnate Ivs. (ours): 

 fls. mostly perfect; stamens usually more or less united into a tube at the base; ovary 

 2-5-celled (sometimes 10-20-celled) : fr. a capsule, drupe or berry. About 40 genera 

 with 600 species, tropical and subtropical; 10 genera and 20 species in China. 



Key to the Genera 



Lvs. odd-pinnate: fr. a capsule; seeds winged 1. Cedrela 



Lvs. bi- or tripinnate: fr. a drupe 2. Melia 



1. Cedrela Linn. H}#fl| (Hsiang Ch'un Shu) 



Trees or shrubs with pinnate lvs.: stamens 4-6; ovary 5-celled, on a gynophore, 

 becoming a 5-valved capsule with many winged seeds. 18 species, in tropical America, 

 Asia and Australia; 3 in China. (From Cedrus, since the wood resembles that of Cedar.) 



1. Cedrela sinensis Juss. HJ5# (Hsiang Ch'un; Fragrant Ailanthus) (R.M. 532). Tree, 

 to 15 m.; fls. whitish, VI, stamens free; fr. a capsule, IX. China; locally in An.) 

 Che., Ki., Ku. Temple forests. Fig. 204. 



2. Melia Linn. Bead Tree \$M (Lien Shu) 

 Trees or shrubs with 2-3-pinnate lvs.: fls. in axillary panicles: stamens 10-12; 

 ovary 5-8-celled: fr. drupaceous with a 5-celled stone, and with 1 seed in each cell. 

 10 species, in southern Asia and Australia; 2 in China. (Old Greek name of the Ash.) 



1. Melia azedarach Linn. China Berry \%)$ (Lien Shu) (R.M. 533). Tree, to 15 m.; 

 fls. fragrant, lilac, IV-V, stamens forming a tube; fr. a yellow drupe, VIII-IX. 

 Himalayas; locally in An., Ki., Ku. Planted, ornamental. Fig. 205. 



90. POLYGALACEAE Milkwort Family m~M& (Yuan Chih K'o) 



Herbs, shrubs or trees with alternate entire simple exstipulate lvs.: fls. perfect, 

 irregular, subtended by 3 bracts: stamens borne on a disc, alternating ivith the petals; 

 ovary 2-celled: fr. a capsule, nut or drupe. 11 genera and about 700 species, widely 

 distributed; 3 genera and 15 species in China. 



1. Polygala Linn. Milkwort }sJfeM (Yuan Chih Shu; 

 Far-reaching-ambition Genus) 



Erect herbs or shrubs: sepals 5, the 2 inner larger and petaloid (called wings); 

 petals 3, joined below to the sheath of the stamens, the lower one keel-shaped and 

 usually crested; stamens 8, monadelphous; anthers opening by pores: fr. a 2-celled, 

 2-seeded capsule. About 450 species, world wide; 12 in China. (Greek: polys, much: 

 and gala, milk, since some species were supposed by Dioscorides to increase the flow 

 of milk.) 



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