MELIACE^E 307 



known for its strongly smelling leaves. The ovary is 

 deeply lobed at the top, and the fruit is a lobed 

 capsule. It is the commonest species of temperate 

 climates, but is not so like the rest of the family as 

 the instances taken above. 



Other common plants of the family are 



GLYCOSMIS PENTAPHYLLA, Corr., which has a small 

 white flower and a small white berry. 



* TODDALIA ACULEATA, Pers., with three-foliate 

 leaves armed on the rachis and mid-ribs with curved 

 prickles. 



MURRAYA EXOTICA, L. and M. KCENIGII, Spreng. 

 with no spines or prickles. 



ATALANTIA CEYLANICA with straight spines and one- 

 foliate leaves like the Orange. 



Examples : 



MELIA AZADIRACHTA, L., the Neem or Margosa, a 

 well-known road-side tree, cultivated in many parts of 

 India for the oil obtained from the fruits. 



Leaves alternate, exstipulate, pinnately compound. 

 Leaflets lanceolate, acuminate, oblique at the base, 

 coarsely serrate, glabrous. 



Flowers small, in axillary panicles. Calyx with five 

 obtuse lobes. Petals five, free, oblong. Anthers double 

 as many, sessile on the inside of a staminal tube 

 which is toothed at the top. Ovary superior, sur- 

 rounded by a disc, three-celled. Style single, slender, 

 stigma capitate. Fruit a drupe, fleshy with one hard 

 stone containing an embryo, and oily endosperm. 



