508 MELIACEA. 
I. heterophylla, the plant yielding Balsam of Acouchi; I. heptaphylla, &e.— 
I. altissima furnishes the Cedar-wood of Guiana, of which there are several 
varieties. It is chiefly used for making canoes. 
Order 15. MEeviacE&, the Melia Order.—C haracter.—Tvrees 
or shrubs. Leaves alternate or rarely somewhat opposite, sim- 
ple or pinnate, exstipulate. Flowers occasionally unisexual by 
abortion. Calyx 3- 4- or 5-partite. Petals equal in number to 
the divisions of the calyx, hypogynous, sometimes united at the 
base ; imbricate or valvate. Stamens twice as many as the 
petals, monadelphous ; anthers sessile, placed within the orifice 
of the tube formed by the united filaments. Disk hypogynous, 
sometimes large and cup-like. Ovary compound, usually 2- 3- 
4- or 5-celled, rarely 10- or 12-celled ; style 1; stigmas separate 
or combined ; ovules 1, 2, or rarely 4, in each cell. Fruit 
baccate, drupaceous, or capsular, in the latter case opening 
loculicidally ; many-celled, or by abortion 1-celled. Seeds few, 
not winged, arillate or exarillate ; albumen fleshy or usually 
absent ; embryo generally with leafy cotyledons. 
Diagnosis. —This order is very nearly allied to Cedrelacee, 
and by some botanists the latter order is included in it. It is 
chiefly distinguished from Cedrelacee by having more com- 
pletely monadelphous stamens ; by the possession of fewer seeds ; 
and in those seeds being without wings. 
Distribution and Numbers.—They are found more or less in 
all the tropical parts of the globe ; but are said to be more 
common in America and Asia than in Africa. A few are extra- 
tropical. Illustrative Genera :—Melia, Linn. ; Aglaia, Lowr. ; 
There are about 150 species. 
Properties and Uses.—These plants are generally remarkable 
for bitter, tonic, and astringent properties. Others are power- 
ful purgatives and emetics, as Guarea Aubletii, G. trichilioides, 
G. purgans, G. spiciflora, and some species of Trichilia ; these all 
require much caution in their administration, and in some cases 
are reputed poisonous. A few species have edible fruits. The 
seeds of some yield fixed oils by expression. 
Aglaia odvrata—The flowers are used to give a perfume to certain 
varieties of Tea. 
Carapa.—The seeds of C. guineensis, an African species, yield by ex- 
pression a fatty oil, called Kundah or Tallicoonah, which is purgative and 
anthelmintic: it is also adapted for burning in lamps, and for other pur- 
poses. An oil of a similar nature is also obtained from C. Touloucouna ; it 
has been imported under the name of mote-grease. The seeds of C. guianensis. 
an American species, also yield a somewhat similar oil, called Crab oil, which 
possesses analogous properties. The bark of these species possesses febrifugal 
properties. 
Lansium.—This is a genus of plants inhabiting the East Indian Archi- 
pelago. They yield fruits which are much esteemed, and known under the 
names of Langsat, Lanséh, Ayer-Ayer, and Bejetlan. 
Melia Azadirachta, the Nim, Neem, or Margosa tree of India.—The bark 
possesses astringent, tonic, and antiperiodic properties ; and the fresh leaves 
are stimulant, and are used as an external application m the form of a 
