AN ENCYCLOPADIA 
OF HORTICULTURE. 347 
Melichrus - continued. : 
M. medius (intermediate). A synonym of M. urceolatus. 
M. rotatus (wheel-shaped). fl. scarlet; corolla rotate. June. 
J. Janceolate-linear, pilose on both surfaces and on the margins, 
1824. Procumbent shrub. 
M. urceolatus (urceolate). fl. scarlet ; corolla urceolate. April. 
l. lanceolate, attenuated, very acute, mucronate, concave, with 
membranous, denticulated edges. h. 2ft. 1824. Erect shrub. 
SYN. M. medius. 
MELICOCCA (from meli, honey, and kokkos, a berry ; 
the taste of the fruit is very sweet). ORD. Sapindacee. 
A genus comprising two or three species of stove trees, 
generally very glabrous, natives of the West Indies, 
Brazil, and Venezuela. Flowers regular, polygamo- 
dicecious; racemes elongated, simple or paniculately 
branched, many-flowered. Drupe ovojd, edible. Leaves 
alternate, exstipulate, abruptly pinnate; leaflets two or 
three-jugate, almost opposite, sessile, membranaceous. 
The species thrive in a compost of loam peat. Pro- 
pagated by ripened cuttings, placed in sand, under a bell 
glass, in heat. 
M. bijuga (two-paired). Honey Be a. yellow; racemes ter- 
minal and axillary, simple, spike-formed. fr. as large as a 
bullace, jet-black, with a very sweet, pleasant taste. J, with two 
pairs of leaflets. h. 40ft. to 50ft. West Indies, &c., 1778. 
MELICOPE (from meli, honey, and kope, a division; 
in allusion to the four honey-glands at the base of the 
ovaries). ORD. Rutacee. A genus consisting of about 
fifteen species of gland-dotted, glabrous, greenhouse 
shrubs, natives of New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. 
Flowers white, rather small; cymes axillary, three- 
flowered, or paniculately branched and many-flowered. 
Leaves opposite (rarely alternate), simple or one to three- 
foliolate, very rarely pinnate ; petioles simple or winged ; 
leaflets entire or crenate. The species described below 
is the only one known to cultivation. It thrives in a 
compost of sandy loam, with a little peat and leaf mould. 
Propagated, in May, by cuttings of small side shoots, 
inserted in sand, under a bell glass. 
terna J . greenish-white, in uncled, 
eee 2 eo k opposite, holonte 
leaflets 3in. to 4in. long ovate or linear-oblong, acute, entire, 
longer than the petioles. h. 12ft. to 15ft. New Zealand, 1822. 
MELILOT. See Melilotus. 
MELILOTUS (old Greek name used by Dioscorides, 
from meli, honey, and Lotus; the plants are said to be the 
favourite resort of bees). Melilot. ORD. Leguminose. A 
genus comprising about forty species of hardy herbaceous 
plants,-of no horticultural value, allied to Trifolium. 
Flowers yellow or white, disposed in loose racemes. Leaves 
trifoliolate ; leaflets usually toothed. The genus is repre- 
sented in the British Flora by three species, one or more 
often being cultivated as “Bee Plants.” ` 
MELISSA (from melissa, a bee; bees are said to 
gather honey 5 these plants). Balm. Orp. Labiate. 
A genus containing three or four species of hardy her- 
ms perennials, or very rarely under-shrubs, natives 
of Central and Western Asia. Flowers white or yellowish, 
variously disposed, racemose or whorled. For culture, 
see Balm 
October. 
co rbaceous, to 4ft. 
i — and South Europe (Britain), naturalised in West Asia. 
(Sy. En. B. 1053.) A variegated form is sometimes seen in culti- 
ration, and forms a very pretty edging plant in almost any soil; 
is, moreover, very fragrant. 
MELITTIS (from melitta, another form of the Greek 
melissa, a bee, to which insect the plant was considered 
Specially grateful). Bastard Balm. Orp. Labiate. A 
monotypic genus, the species being a very handsome, 
Y, native perennial. It thrives almost anywhere, and 
in any soil; but, in a slightly-shaded spot, and in well- 
enriched loam, the result will amply repay the trouble 
taken. The plant is most distinct in character, and should 
be grown extensively on the margins of shrubberies, and in 
Melittis—continued. 
herbaceous borders generally. Pro ted by dividing 
plants after flowering. ee £ 2 
SOAP 
* 
es, 
crenated, cordate at the base, oP tan Haren (cee 
MELLEOUS. Having the taste or smell of honey. 
MELLIFEROUS. Honey-bearing. 
MELOCACTUS (from Melon, a Melon, and Kaktos, 
a name applied by Theophrastus to a spiny plant; the 
species of this genus are melon-formed, and their angles 
are beset with tufts of spines). Melon Thistle, ORD. 
Cactem. A genus comprising about thirty species of stove 
succulent plants, inhabiting Mexico, Brazil, and the West 
Indies, a few being found in New Granada. Melo- 
cactuses are not often seen in cultivation, and are more 
Fia. 639. MELOCACTUS COMMUNIS, 
grotesque than beautiful. They closely resemble each 
in general characters, which are “a globular, un- 
vertoe fleshy stem, 1ft. to Aft. in diameter, regularly 
ribbed from base to summit, the ridges bearing a vary- 
ing number of clusters of spines, and a cylindrical por- 
tion, termed the cap, produced from the apex of the 
stem, formed of a woolly substance, and closely-set, softer 
spines than those on the main stem. Upon this the 
