MELIACEAE 681 



tinct, naked. Anthers often versatile, introrse. Gynoecium of 2-5 united 

 carpels. Ovary 2-5-celled, free. Styles united, sometimes wanting. Stigma 

 2-5-lobed. Ovules 2, or rarely 1, in each cavity, pendulous, anatropous. Fruit 

 drupaceous, sometimes with a more or less valvular epicarp. Seeds terete or 

 angled, the testa membranous. Endosperm wanting. Cotyledons thin. 



1. BURSERA Jacq. 



Tropical, sometimes evergreen trees, with a balsamic-resinous sap. Leaves sparse, 

 often crowded at the ends of the branches : leaflets opposite, commonly pellucid-punctate, 

 the rachis terete or winged. Flowers clustered, or in short or elongated lateral racemes or 

 panicles. Sepals 4-6, at length reflexed. Disk annular, crenate. Petals 4-6, valvate or 

 rarely imbricated. Stamens 6-12, inserted at the base of the disk : filaments nearly equal, 

 distinct. Ovary 3-5-celled, sessile : stigmas 3-5. Ovules 2. Drupe ovoid or globose, 

 oblique, somewhat 3-angled, indehiscent or sometimes with 2-3 valves. Seeds solitary. 

 Cotyledons sometimes 3-parted, contorted and folded. 



1. Bursera Simaruba ( L. ) Sarg. A large glabrous forest tree, with a maximum 

 height of 20 m. and a trunk diameter of 1 m. Leaves 1-2 dm. long, usually decidu- 

 ous : leaflets 3-7, the blades rather leathery, oval or elliptic, varying to ovate or obovate, 

 3-5 cm. long, usually short-acuminate, entire, inequilateral : racemes simple, 5-10 cm. 

 long, longer than the peduncles : pedicels 4-8 mm. long : sepals ovate or triangular-ovate, 

 about 1 mm. long: petals oblong-lanceolate or ovate, spreading, 2-2.5 mm. long, acute: 

 stamens erect : drupes oblong, 3-angled, 5-6 mm. long, the epicarp leathery, separating into 

 3 valves : seeds 1 or 2, 3-angled. [1?. gummifera L.?J 



On the coast, southern peninsular Florida and the Keys. Also in tropical America. Spring. WEST 

 INDIAN BIRCH. GUMBO LIMBO. GUM ELEMI. 



FAMILY 12. MELIACEAE Vent. MAHOGANY FAMILY. 



Mostly tropical shrubs, trees, or sometimes shrubby herbs, with an often 

 hard and odorous wood. Leaves alternate, without stipules : blades pinnately 

 compound, sometimes thrice pinnate : leaflets with entire or toothed blades. In- 

 florescence paniculate. Flowers perfect or polygamo-dioecious, regular. Calyx 

 of 3-5 imbricated or rarely valvate sepals. Disk variable. Corolla of 3-5 distinct 

 or somewhat united contorted or imbricated petals which are sometimes adnate 

 to the stamen-tube and valvate. Androecium of 8-10 stamens, or rarely fewer 

 or more, inserted at the base of the disk. Filaments united into a tube whose 

 edge is variously toothed or cleft. Anthers sessile or stalked on the tube, some- 

 times apiculate. Gynoecium of 3-5 united carpels. Ovary 3-5 celled, free. 

 Styles united. Ovules 2-many in each cavity, anatropous. Fruit a berry, cap- 

 sule or drupe. Seeds sometimes winged. Endosperm wanting or fleshy. 

 Embryo with leafy cotyledons. 



Ovules 2 in a cavity : fruit a drupe : seeds without wings. 1. MELIA. 



Ovules many in a cavity : fruit a capsule : seeds winged. 2. SWIETENIA. 



1. MELIA L. 



Tropical and Australian trees, commonly with a variegated wood and scarred branches. 

 Leaves alternate : blades unequally pinnate, often thrice compound ; leaflets often numer- 

 ous, the blades toothed. Flowers perfect, white or purple, in ample axillary much- 

 branched panicles. Sepals 5-6, imbricated. Disk annular. Petals 5-6, distinct, narrow, 

 contorted, spreading. Staminal tube nearly cylindric, dilated at the mouth, 10-12-lobed, 

 each lobe 2- or 3-cleft : anthers 10-12, erect, scarcely apiculate. Ovary subglobose, 3-6- 

 celled : stigma 3-6-lobed. Ovules 2 in each cavity, pendulous, one above the other- 

 Drupe leathery-fleshy, with a 1-5-celled stone. Seed solitary in each cavity, wingless. 

 Endosperm fleshy or very thick. CHINA-TREE. PRIDE-OF-!NDIA. 



1. Melia Az6darach L. A large ornamental tree, reaching a height of 15 m. and with 

 a trunk diameter of nearly 2 m. Bark furrowed : leaf-blades twice compound, 3-9 dm. 

 long, petioled : leaflets numerous, the blades ovate, oval or elliptic, 3-7 cm. long, acute or 

 short acuminate, incised -serrate or lobed, acute or subcordate at the base : panicles 6-15 



