2024 



MELASTOMA 



MELIA 



lance-oblong, long-acuminate, the nerves (or at least 

 some of them) and the petioles often red : fls. 1-3, large, 

 nearly or quite 2 in. across, the petals rose-colored and 

 retuse. Java to China. B.M. 529; 2241. 



nor male, D. Don. About 5 ft., the hairy young 

 branches brown-gray: Ivs. petiolate, ovate-oblong, 

 5-nerved, yellow-felted beneath: fls. lilac-rose, several 

 together at ends of bractless branches; calyx yellow- 



Eubescent, the lobes linear-subulate; petals ovate, 1 in. 

 mg. India to Polynesia. R.H. 1910:332. 



AA. Lvs. strongly 7 -nerved or more. 



candidum, D. Don. Branches 4-angled, hoary, the 

 younger ones pubescent, as also the petioles: Ivs. ovate- 

 acute, setulose above, villose beneath : fls. 3-7 in a cyme, 

 rose-colored (sometimes white?), about the size of those 

 of M . decemfidum; calyx-lobes shorter than the tube. S. 

 China. M. malabathricum, B. R. 672(?). 



malabathricum, Linn. (M. Bdnksii, Cunn.). Differs 

 from the last in having the calyx-lobes about equal to 

 the tube, or sometimes even longer: Ivs. oblong or ovate- 

 oblong, acute or short-acuminate, sparsely setulose, 

 above and beneath: fls. corymbose, purple, much smaller 

 than in the last two. E. India to Austral. Probably 

 the M. malabathricum of horticulturists is one of the 

 above species. Not known to be in the American trade. 



corymbSsum, Sims (properly Arnphiblemma cymd- 

 sum, Naudin. Meldstoma cymosum, Schrad.). 

 Branches terete, glabrous: Ivs. large, petioled, the blade 

 5-6 in. long, cordate-ovate, short-acuminate, glabrous, 

 5-7-9-nerved, satiny green, sharply serrulate: fls. 



2347. Leaf of Melia Azedarach. ( X l /$) 



bright purple, in rather close terminal branching 

 corymbs; petals oval, paler beneath; calyx-lobes ovate- 

 triangular, ciliate; stamens 10. Upper Guinea. B.M. 

 904; 5473. L.B.C. 10:984. To the genus Amphi- 

 blemma, Cogniaux admits 5 species. They are herbs or 

 shrubs, of the Sonerila group or subfamily, with isomer- 

 ous fls. : herbs or small shrubs of W. Trop. Afr., with fls. 



2348. Umbrella tree Melia Azedarach var. 

 umbraculiformis. 



in simple or branched scorpioid cymes: petals 5; sta- 

 mens 10, very unequal; ovary 5-celled and hollowed at 

 top: caps, turbinate, 5-valved at top, with minute seeds: 

 Ivs. membranaceous, long-petioled, ovate-acuminate, 

 5- or more-nerved, serrulate. L jj g 



MELIA (ancient Greek name). Meliacese. BEAD- 

 TREE. Trees, from 30 to 40 feet high, some of them 

 much planted 

 South for 

 shade and or- 

 nament; some- 

 times bushes. 



Leaves d e - 

 ciduous, large, 

 doubly pinnate 

 or once - pin- 

 nate, the Ifts. 

 acuminate, 

 glabrous: fls. 

 in graceful 

 panicles; sepals 

 5-6, imbrica- 

 ted ; petals 5 

 or 6; stamens 

 monadelphous, 

 10-12, of two 

 lengths; ovary 

 with several locules, topped with a single style: fr. a 

 small indehiscent drupe. Species few, of Asia and 

 Austral. 



A. Lvs. more than once-pinnate. 



Azedarach, Linn. CHINA-TREE. CHINA-BERRY. 

 PRIDE OF INDIA. Fig. 2347. Tree, to 40 ft. and more, 

 making a thick trunk with furrowed bark: Ivs. 2-com- 

 pound, to 3 ft. long, stalked; Ifts. many, ovate, oval or 

 elliptic, acute, sharp-toothed or lobed: fls. purplish, in 

 open panicles 4-6 in. long; petals oblanceolate or nar- 

 row-oblong, obtuse; sepals acute; ovary 5-celled : drupe 

 nearly globular, yellow and smooth, J^-^in. diam. 

 Himalayan region, 2,000-3,000 ft. altitude, and proba- 

 bly native elsewhere in Asia; now widely planted. B.M. 

 1066. S.I.F. 2:35 (as M. japonica) . It has become 

 naturalized throughout the S. ; the northern limit of its 

 hardiness is about Norfolk, Va., or somewhat south- 

 ward, on the coastal plain area; it is luxuriant in N. C., 

 except in the Piedmont country. The tree grows with 

 great rapidity, and forms one of the most desirable 

 shade trees, both from the bright green tint of the foli- 

 age, which is retained until late in the autumn, and also 

 from the fragrance of the numerous lilac-colored fls. 

 which are produced in April. These are succeeded by 

 an abundant crop of berries, of a yellowish translucent 

 color, which are readily eaten by cattle and birds. In 

 some countries, the seeds are used for the making of 

 rosaries. The wood, although coarse, is very durable. 

 The tree can withstand a low temperature, but a cold 

 of zero will injure or kill it. Several forms have been 

 found, a white-flowering and one with the segms. of the 

 Ifts. cut in narrow divisions. These forms are not con- 

 stant, the seedlings frequently reverting to the typical 

 species. In all forms of M . Azedarach, the Ivs. are 2- or 

 3-pinnate, the ultimate Ifts. ovate or lanceolate, and 

 varying from serrate to very nearly entire. 



Var. umbraculiformis, Berckm. (var. umbraculifera, 

 Hort.). TEXAS UMBRELLA TREE. Fig. 2348. Lfts. are 

 less broad than in M. Azedarach, and the branches 

 erect, and, in a manner, radiating from the trunk, the 

 drooping foliage giving the tree the appearance of a 

 gigantic umbrella. Mn. 8, p. 73. F.E. 26:187. G.F. 

 7:95. The first tree that came to notice is said to 

 have been found near the battlefield of San Jacinto, 

 Texas, but with no record of its intro. there. If the 

 fls. are not cross-pollinated with the common sort, the 

 percentage of seedlings which reproduce the exact 



