128 Bulletin of the University of Texas 



MELIACEAE Ventenat. The Mahogany Family. 

 Melia L. China Tree. 



Trees with alternate mostly bipinnate leaves, perfect flow- 

 ers in much branched, axillary panicles and large clusters of 

 globose yellow drupes which remain on the tree after the 

 leaves have fallen. 



1. Melia Azedarach L. China Tree. Pride of India. A 

 medium sized tree 40-50 high with smooth twigs and fur- 

 rowed bark. Leaves large, sometimes thrice pinnate; leaflets 

 notched. Flowers purple in large axillary panicles. Fruit 

 remains on the tree throughout the winter. The seeds are 

 scattered by birds. Robins are said to "get drunk" from 

 eating the fruit. 



A native of China naturalized in our area, and frequently 

 found growing spontaneously. It is much planted for shade 

 and ornament. 



2. Melia Azedarach nmbreculifera Sarg. Umbrella China. 

 Similar to Melia Azedarach but with depressed umbrella-like 

 top. Very extensively planted for shade. 



SPONDIACEAE Kunth. Sumac Family. 



Shrubs or small trees with resinous or milky juice; alter- 

 nate, single or compound pinnate leaves; mostly dioecious 

 flowers borne in axillary, lateral or terminal spikes or racemes, 

 and dense heads of drupaceous fruits. 



Leaves simple 1. Cotinus. 



Leaves pinnately compound 2. Schmaltzia. 



COTINUS Adams. 



1. Cotinus cotinoides (Nutt.) Britton. Smoke Tree. A 

 shrub or small tree with spreading, drooping branches, purple 

 twigs, and light gray furrowed bark. Leaves simple, alter- 

 nate, oval or obovate, 2'-6' long, entire or with undulate mar- 

 gins, dark green above, paler below. Flowers in few flowered 

 plumose panicles, at the ends of branches, staminate and pis- 

 tillate borne on different trees. Fruit a drupe. 



Missouri, Tennessee, Alabama and Texas. Cultivated for 

 ornament. 



