MEL 



[ 590 ] 



MEL 



tubes contain a copious supply oJ 

 honey- like juice. Nat. ord., Beancapen 

 [Zygophyllacere]. Linn., JL-Tetrandria 

 I-Monogynta.) 



The natives obtain honey for food by shaking 

 the branches of Melianthus major, when in 

 blossom. Evergreens from the Cape of Good 

 Hope. Cuttings of young shoots, in sandy 

 soil, under a hand-light ; rich sandy soil ; re- 

 quire the protection of a greenhouse, cold pit, 

 or a conservative wall, in winter. 



M. como'sus (tufted). 3. Yellow. 1820. 



ma'jor (greater). 10. Brown. June. 1688. 



mi'nor (smaller). 2. Brown. June. 1696. 



MELI'CHRUS. (Frommelichros, honey- 

 coloured ; referring to glands on the 

 flowers. Nat. ord., Epacrlds [Epacri- 

 dacese]. Linn., 5-Pentandria 1-Mono- 

 gynia. Allied to Styphelia.) 



Greenhouse, scarlet-flowered evergreens from 

 New Holland. Cuttings of the shoots, when 

 two inches long, and a little hard at their base ; 

 side cuttings after pruning down, are the best ; 

 sandy peat. Winter temp., 38 to 45. 

 M. me'dius (middle). 2. May. 1824. 



rota'ta (wheel-shaped). l. June. 1824. 



MELICO'CCA. Honey-berry. (From 

 met, honey, and coccos, a berry ; re- 

 ferring to the sweetness of the fruit. 

 Nat. ord., Soapworts [Sapindacese]. 

 Linn., 8-Octandria I-Monoyynia. Al- 

 lied to Pierardia.j 



Stove evergreen trees. Cuttings of ripe 

 shoots, in sand, under a bell-glass, in heat ; 

 peat and loam. Winter temp., 48 to 60; 

 summer, 60 to 80. 



M. bi'juga (two-paired). 16. Yellow. Antilles. 

 1778- 



olivafo'rmis (Olive-shaped). 20. Yellow. 



Grenada. 1824. 



panicula'ta (panicled). 20. St. Domingo. 



1820. 



tri'juga (three-paired). 20. Ceylon. 1820. 



MELI'COPE. (From met, honey, and 

 kope, an incision ; referring to the 

 nectary of notched glands. Nat. ord., 

 Rneworts [Kutaceffi]. Linn., S-Octan- 

 dria \-Monogynia.) 



Greenhouse evergreen. Cuttings of small 

 side-shoots, in sand, under a bell-glass, in May ; 

 sandy loam, with a little peat and leaf mould. 

 Winter temp., 40 to 48. 

 M. terna'ta (three-leafleted). 6. White. New 

 Zealand. 1822. 



MELI'CYTUS. (From meli, honey, 

 and cytos, a cavity ; referring to the 

 cavity at the bottom of the stamens. 

 Nat. ord., Bixads [Flacourtiacese]. 

 Linn., '22-Dicecia Q-Hexandria. Allied 

 to Flacourtia.) 



Greenhouse evergreen shrub. Cuttings of 

 shoots getting firm, in sand, under a bell-glass, 

 in May ; sandy peat, and a little loam. Winter 

 temp., 38 to 45. 



M. ramiflo'rus (branch-flowered). 6. White. 

 New Zealand. 1822. 



MELILO'TUS. Melilot. (From meli, 

 honey, and lotus, the honey lotus. Nat. 

 ord., Leguminous Plants [Fabacese]. 

 Linn., \l~Diadelphia k-Decandria. Al- 

 lied to Trifolium.) 



Seed, in common soil ; arborea, by seed and 

 by cuttings, does best in a sheltered place, and 

 is deserving of more cultivation. 

 37. arbo'rea (tree). 15. White. July. Turkey. 

 1826. 



leuca'ntha (white - flowered). 4. White. 



July. Europe. 



suave'olents (sweet -smelling). 3. Yellow. 



July. Dahuria, 1824. 



MELI'SSA. Balm. (From melissa, a 

 bee ; literally, a bee-flower. Nat. ord., 

 Labiates [Lamiacese]. Linn., l-Didy - 

 namia I-Gymnospermia.} 



Hardy herbaceous perennials. Dividing the 

 roots, in spring ; common garden soil. See 

 Bairn, 



M. Cre'tica (Cretan). White, purple. June. 

 Candia. 1596. 



officina'lis (shop). 1. White. July. South 



Europe. 1573. 

 variega'ta (striped - leaned). 1. 



White. June. Gardens. 

 villa'. ia (shaggy). White. August. 



Italy. 1573. 



microphy'lla (small - leaved). . Purple. 



June. Corsica. 1829. 



polya'nthos (many - flowered). 1. White. 



July. 1820. 



Pyrena'ica (Pyrenean). 1. White, purple. 



July. Pyrenees. 1800. 



MELI'TTIS. Bastard Balm. (The 

 same derivation as Melissa. Nat. ord., 

 Labiates [Lamiacese]. Linn., l&-Didy- 

 namia \-Gymnospermia.} 



Same culture as Balm. 



M. melissophy'llum (Balm-leaved). 1. Flesh. 

 May. England. 



' Alpi'na (Alpine). ^. Flesh. 



May. Switzerland. 



grandiflo'ra (large-flowered). 



1. White, yellow. May. England. 



MELOCA'CTUS, or Melon - shaped 

 Cactus, a sectional genus of Cactus, 

 differing from Echinocactus, in having 

 the flowers produced on a head covered 

 with dense, woolly, and bristly hairs, 

 called a tomentum, while those of 

 Echinocactus issue from the bare ribs 

 or angles. Treatment similar to 

 hat for Mamillaria ; suckers and 

 offsets; loam, peat, and lime rubbish. 



