THALAMIFLOR^. 491 



Natural Order 48. Cedrelace^. — The Mahogany Order. — 

 General Character. — Trees. Leaves alternate, pinnate, ex- 

 stipulate. Calyx 4— 5-cleft, imbricated. Petals hypogynous, 

 of the same number as the divisions of the calyx, imbricated. 

 Stamens XvncQ as many as the petals and divisions of the calyx, 

 either united below into a tube, or distinct, and inserted into an 

 annular hypogynous disk ; anthers 2- celled, "with longitudinal 

 dehiscence. Ovary usually with as many cells as there are 

 divisions to the calyx and corolla, or rarely only 3 ; ovules 4, or 

 more, in two rows, anatropal; style and stigma simple. Fruit cap- 

 sular (fig. 662 J, dehiscence usually septifragal. Seeds (fig. 662, g), 

 flat, winged, attached to placentas in the axis ; albumen thin or 

 none ; embryo straight, erect, with the radicle next the hilum. 



Diagnosis. — Trees with alternate, pinnate, exstipulate leaves. 

 Flowers hypogynous, symmetrical. Calyx and corolla with 4 

 or .5 divisions ; both imbricated in aestivation. Stamens double 

 the number of the petals ; with united or distinct filaments, 

 and inserted on a hypogynous disk. Ovary usually 4 or 5- 

 celled, with 4 or more ovules ; style simple. Fruit capsular ; 

 placentas axile. Seeds usually numerous, flat, winged ; albumen 

 thin or none ; embryo straight, erect. 



Distribution, ^c. — Chiefly natives of the tropical parts of 

 America and India ; they are very rare in Africa. Examples : — 

 Swietenia, Soymida, Chloroxylon, Flindersia. There are 9 

 genera, and 25 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The plants of this order have fragrant, 

 aromatic, tonic, astringent, and febrifugal properties, and many 

 of them are valuable timber- trees. The following are the more 

 important : — 



Swietenia Mahagoni supplies the well-known valuable wood called Ma- 

 hogany. This is chiefly imported from Honduras and Cuba, and also to some 

 extent from other West Indian Islands. Its bark possesses febrifugal pro- 

 perties. 



Soi/midafebrifuga. The Rohuna, or Red-wood Tree — The bark is tonic, 

 febrifugal, and astringent. 



Chloroxylon. — The leaves of this genus are dotted, and yield by distillation 

 an essential oil. C. Swietenia is the source of Indian Satin Wood, which is 

 sometimes imported into this country for the use of cabinet-makers. Accord- 

 ing toRoyle, this plant is one of those that yields the Wood-oil of India. (See 

 p. 474). 



Oileya xanthoxyla furnishes the Yellow-wood of New South Wales. 



Cedrela The bark of the plants of this genus is generally fragrant. C 



febiifuga, C. Toona, and other species, have febrifugal and astringent barks ; 

 they have been used as su'^stitutesfor Cinchona. C. Toona furnishes a wood 

 resembling mahogany, which is much used in the East Indies, and is occa- 

 sionally imported into this country. It is termed Toon, Tunga, Poma, or 

 Jeea-wood. 



Natural Order 49. Meliace^s. — The Melia Order. — General 

 Characte r. — Trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate, or rarely some- 

 what opposite, simple or pinnate, exstipulate. Flowers occa- 

 sionally unisexual by abortion. Calyx 3, 4, or 5-partite. 

 Petals equal in number to the, divisions of the calyx, hypo- 



