MELIACEJE. 175 



exalbuminous ; cotyledons thick and often inseparable 

 from each other. 



Trees or shrubs, (sometimes parasites,) with resinous 

 juices ; leaves entire, exstipulate, and opposite, coria- 

 ceous in texture, and with parallel lateral veins extend- 

 ing to the margin. 



Geographical Relations. Plants of tropical countries, 

 especially met with in the equatorial regions of South 

 America. 



Properties. The members of the family abound in 

 acrid juices, which are viscid and of a yellow colour, and 

 are obtained from wounding their bark ; the fruits of 

 many are eatable and said to provoke appetite. 



Officinal Plant. 

 Stalagmitis cambogioides. 



10. MELIACEJS. 



Sepals 4 to 5, more or less coherent. Petals equal 

 in number to the sepals, hypogynous, with broad un- 

 gues, connivent or coalescent at their bases, and gene- 

 rally valvate in aestivation. Stamens mostly double the 

 number of petals, sometimes equal or three or four times 

 as many, monadelphous ; anthers sessile upon the faux of 

 the tube. Disk often much developed. Ovarium sin- 

 gle, of several cells, ovules definite in number, stigmas 

 distinct or combined. Fruit capsular baccate or dru- 

 paceous, many-celled, or by abortion one-celled, seeds 

 sometimes winged and albuminous, but mostly the re- 

 verse. Embryo variable in form. 



Trees or shrubs with alternate leaves, which are either 

 simple or compound. 



Geographical Relations. East and West Indies, Ame- 



