MELIA 



MELICOCCA 



2025 



umbrella shape seldom varies; hence it is supposed by 

 some to be a distinct species. 



sempervirens, Swartz (M. Azedarach var. sempervir- 

 ens, Linn.). A low-growing tree with Ivs. deeply incised, 

 the Ifts. the shape of those of M. Azedarach: fls. in axil- 

 lary panicles, small, light lilac, fragrant, in constant 

 succession. A greenhouse species, and a beautiful tree 

 of distinct habit in S. Fla., where it is rapid-growing, 

 holding its Ivs. well into winter and blooming at inter- 

 vals throughout the year. It is there prone to send up 

 suckers and to prop, itself unduly from seeds. M. sem- 

 pervirens, Swartz, is a widespread plant in the W. 

 Indies and elsewhere. B.R. 643. 



floribunda, Carr. (M. Azedarach var. floribunda, 

 Morr. M . japonica var. semper flbrens, Makino) . By 

 some considered to be a precocious and very floriferous 

 form of M. Azedarach, but the plant grown in this 

 country under this name and as M. semperflorens (and 

 which is probably the same as Carriere's M. floribunda) 

 is a bushy species, not tree-like, and should receive 

 further study. In S. Fla. it is a "small awkward shrub, 

 never reaching above 10 ft. and seldom branching." In 

 S. Calif, it rarely reaches above 8 ft. and suckers con- 

 tinually; by cutting down to the ground the sts. that 

 have bloomed, it can be had in flower nearly all the 

 year. M. floribunda is said to begin to bloom at 1-2 ft., 

 and to flower the second and third years from seed. The 

 Ifts. are lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate rather than 

 ovate, very gradually taper-pointed. Perhaps Japanese. 

 R.H. 1872:470. B.H. 30:176. 



AA. Lvs. once-pinnate. 



Azadirachta, Linn. (Azadirdchta indica, A. Juss., and 

 by some recent writers kept generically distinct). Large 

 tree, sometimes 50 ft.: Ivs. broad, pinnate, with 9-15 

 lance-acuminate, oblique, more or less serrate Ifts. : fls. 

 white, fragrant, very small, 5-merous; petals ciliate: 

 drupe J^-%in. long, oblong, the seeds yielding oil: 

 foliage crowded near the ends of the branches. India. 

 Not hardy in the Cent. S. 



M. japonica, Don, is by Hemsley (Fl. China) referred to M. 

 Azedarach; M. japonica, Hassle. , is by some referred to M. Azadi- 

 rachta, but is perhaps distinct; apparently these plants are not in 

 the trade. L H B t 



MELIANTHUS (Greek, honey-flower). Melian- 

 thacex; formerly included in Sapindacex. Evergreen 

 shrubs of South Africa, to be grown out-of-doors in 

 southern California and similar climates. 



Leaves alternate, stipulate, odd-pinnate; Ifts. un- 

 equal-sided: fls. in axillary and terminal racemes, 

 secreting honey plentifully; calyx laterally compressed, 

 with or without a sac-like protuberance at the base, 

 with a nectar-bearing gland within; petals 5, the ante- 

 rior one abortive; stamens 4, didynamous. M. hima- 

 layanus, Wall., is M. major, which has been intro. into 

 S. Asia. About a half-dozen species, strong-scented. 



A. Lfts. entire. 



pectinatus, Harv. (M. Trimenianus, Hook. f.). Rigid 

 shrub, with densely set pectinate-pinnate Ivs. on short 

 twigs, the rachis winged: Ifts. 8-10 pairs, linear, entire, 

 with revolute margins, white-tomentose beneath: fls. 

 dull red, in more or less whorled racemes, the peduncles 

 purple; petals 4, long-clawed; upper calyx-segm. cus- 

 pidate. B.M. 6557. G.W. 4, p. 39. 



AA. Lfts. toothed or serrate. 

 B. Calyx gibbous at base. 



major, Linn. St. flexuous, glabrous, sometimes 10 

 ft. or more in height, with a widely creeping root: Ivs. 

 gray, a foot or more long, the upper ones smaller; stip- 

 ules grown together into one large intra-axillary piece, 

 attached to the lower part of the petiole; Ifts. 9-11, 3-4 

 in. long, 2 in. wide: racemes densely fld., 1 ft. or more 

 in length; bracts ovate, acuminate: fls. red-brown, 1 in. 

 long: caps, papery, 4-lobed at the apex, 1-1 J4 in. long; 

 seeds 2 in each cell, black and shining. Cape. G.C. III. 



36:142. B.R. 45. R.H. 1867, p. 131; 1913, p. 413. G.W. 

 4, p. 37. An excellent foliage plant. M . intermedius, 

 Hort., is a hybrid between this species and M . comosus. 



BB. Calyx not conspicuously gibbous at base. 



minor, Linn. Shrub with branchlets and infl. some- 

 what canescent: Ivs. 5-6 in. long; stipules 2, subulate, 

 lateral free; Ifts. 1H~2 in. long, 6-10 lines wide: racemes 

 6-12 in. long, subterminal; fls. dull red: caps, obtuse at 

 each end, scarcely 4-lobed, 8 lines long. 



comosus, Vahl. Shrub with grayish white branches: 

 Ivs. 4-6 in. long; Ifts. lanceolate, serrate, pubescent 

 above but becoming glabrate, white-tomentose be- 

 neath : fls. orange inside, red-spotted outside and green 

 at base, alternate in nodding racemes; petals oblong or 

 spatulate : caps, oval, 4-winged. B.M. 301 (as M. minor). 



M. B. COULSTON. 

 L. H. B.f 



MELICA (old Italian name for Sorghum, from 

 mel, honey). Grominese. MELIC GRASS. Slender- 

 stemmed perennials: spikelets 2- to several-fld., 

 rather large, often richly colored or with a pearly 

 luster, in narrow or open panicles. Species about 35, 

 throughout temperate zones. Several beautiful native 

 species of U. S., but not known in cult. M. ciliata, 

 Linn., of Eu., with a pale spike-like panicle of silky 

 spikelets is sometimes cult, for ornament, and M. 

 violacea, Cav., a Chilean species with graceful panicles 

 of violet-tinged broadly winged spikelets, has been 

 recently intro. A. S. HITCHCOCK. 



2349. Melicocca bijuga. (Sprays X V\) 



MELICOCCA (Greek, honey berry, referring to the 

 taste of the fruit). Sapindacex. Two species of tropical 

 fruit trees, natives of America. 



Leaves abruptly pinnate: racemes divided; calyx 

 4-parted; segms. imbricated; petals 4; stamens 8; disk 

 complete; stigma peltate, sub-sessile; ovary 2-celled: 

 berry 1-2-seeded. -S. Amer., perhaps native also in 

 W. Indies. 



bijuga, Linn. SPANISH LIME or GENIP. Fig. 2349. 

 Lfts. in 2 pairs, elliptical or elliptic-lanceolate, entire, 



