THALAMIFLOE^. 483 



below into a tube or distinct, and inserted into an annular hypo- 

 ■gynous 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 ; omiles 4, or more, in two 

 rows, anatropal; style and stigma simple. Fruit capsular {fig. 

 663), dehiscence xisually septifragal. Seeds {fig. 663, g) flat, 

 winged, attached to axile placentas ; albumen thin or none ; 

 embryo straight, erect, wdth the radicle next the hilum. 



Diagnosis. — Trees with alternate pinnate exstipulate leaves. 

 Flowers symmetrical. Calyx and corolla with 4 or 5 divisions ; 

 both imbricate in aestivation. Stamens double the number of 

 the petals ; with united or distinct filaments, and inserted on an 

 annular hypogynous disk. Ovary usually 4 or 5-celled, with 

 4 or more o\Tiles ; style simple. Fruit capsular ; placentas axile. 

 Seeds usually numerous, flat, winged; albumen thin or none; 

 embryo straight, erect. 



Listribution, ^-c. — Chiefly natives of the tropical parts of 

 America and India ; they are verj' rare in Africa. Exam])Ies of 

 the Genera: — Swietenia, Soymida, Chloroxylon. There are 

 about 25 species. 



Froj)erties 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 : — 



Cedreln.—lhQ bark of the plants of this geuns is generally fragrant. C. 

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

 they have been used as substitutes for Cinchona. C. odorata is the source of 

 Jamaica or Honduras Cedar. C. Toona furnishes a wood resembling maho- 

 gany, which is much used in the East Indies, and is occasionally imported 

 into this country. It is termed Toon, Tunga, Poma, or Jeea-wood. G. aus- 

 tralis produces the Red Cedar of Australia. 



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. 



Oxleya xanthoxyla furnishes the Yellow-wood of Queensland. 



Soymida febvifuga. The Eohuna or Eed-wood Tree — The bark, which is 

 known iinder the name of Rohun Bark, is tonic, febrifugal, and astringent. 

 It is much employed in the East Indies in intermittent fevers, diarrhoea, &c. 



Sicietenia 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 IncUan Islands. Its bark possesses febrifiigal 

 properties. 



IS'atural Order 49. Meliaceje. — The Melia Order,— Charac- 

 ter. — Trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate, or rarely somewhat 

 opposite, simple 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 coherent 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 coherent 

 II 2 



