Melastoma 



Melittis 



Only Species : 



graminea, grh., Ap., wh., striped pur., Ivs. Grass- 

 like (syns. parviflora and Gladiolus gramineus). 



MELASTOMA. 



Stove evergreen shrubs (prd. Melastomacese), 

 chiefly o botanical interest. Few of the species 

 are in cultivation. Cuttings may be rooted in 

 sandy peat, in bottom heat, in spring. Soil, equal 

 parts of loam and peat, with sand. 



Principal Species : 



caiididum, 4^', sum., pk. Sep., Oct., pur. (si/n. 



sanguineum, 4' to 6', decemfidum). 



Other Species : 



corymbosum, sum., pur. decemfidum (nee sanguiu- 

 (now Amphiblemma eum). 

 cymosum). 



MELHANIA. 



Stove and greenhouse shrubs and sub-shrubs 

 (prd. Sterculiacese), of no value, and probably 

 not in cultivation. Propagation, by cuttings. 



Principal Species : 



Erythroxylon, 15', Je., red (si/n, Trochetia 



st., wh., changing to Erythroxylon). 



pk. ; wood hard and Melanoxylon, 20', st., 

 wh. ; flower Malva- 

 like. 



M ELI A. (BEAD TREE.) 



Stove, greenhouse, or half-hardy trees (prd. 

 Meliaceje), with white or purple flowers in large 

 panicles. Propagation, by cuttings of firm shoots 

 in sand under a bell-glass in bottom heat. A sandy 

 loam suits. While Melias have comparatively little 

 decorative value, with the exception of Azedarach 

 and its varieties, and japonica, they are interesting 

 because in Catholic countries the nuts are threaded 

 for " beads " on rosaries. Hence the name " Arbor 

 Sancta," which is sometimes used. The nuts have 

 a natural hole through the middle that renders the 

 threading easy. 



Principal Species and Varieties : 



Azedarach, 40', sum., umbraculiformis, of 



lidy. in South of Eng- umbrella-like habit, 



land, lil., Ivs. fragrant, japonica, 20' to 40', sum., 



ornamental (fyn. sem- hlf-hdy., lil., fragrant, 



pervirens). According to Index 



floribunda, a florif erous Kewemis, this is a var. 



var., blooms whilst of Azedarach). 

 very small. 



Other Species : 



Azadirachta, 20', sum., dubia, 30', sum., st., wh. 

 st., bl. or pk. (syit. composita). 



composita (see dubia). sempervirens (see Aze- 



darach). 



MELIANTHUS. (HONEY FLOWER.) 

 A small genus (ord. Sapindaceae) of greenhouse 

 or half-hardy herbs, usually strongly scented. Of 

 the four species, major is the only one that is well 

 known. It is frequently employed in sub-tropical 

 gardening, and its glaucous leaves are quite 

 distinct in hue from those of any other plant, save, 

 perhaps, the Eucalyptus. It also does well in the 

 conservatory. Propagation, by cuttings, which 

 root freely in a close frame, or by seeds. While 

 not truly hardy, except in very favoured spots in 

 the south of England, it will stand the winter out 

 of doors in all but very bleak spots if its roots are 

 protected with a few inches of dry litter. A light, 

 rich soil gives the best results. 



Principal Species : 



major, 4' to 20', hlf-hdy., Ivs. glaucous, flowers 

 br., bushy, stems hollow. Honey Flower (see p. 65). 



Other Species : 

 comosus, 3' to a', aut., minor, 5', Aug., grh., 



grh., or. yel. (,'/. dark br. 



minor of Botanical pectinatus, 6' to 10', win., 



Magazine 301). grh., sc. (*//. trimen- 



ianus). 



MELICHRUS. 



Two species of ornamental greenhouse shrubs 

 (prd. Epacrideas) from Eastern Australia. They 

 may be increased by 2" cuttings, taken from the 

 side shoots and rooted in sandy soil. Pot firmly 

 in sandy peat, with a few pieces of charcoal. 



Only Species : 



medius (see urceolatus). urceolrtus, 2', Ap., sc., 



rotatus, Je., sc., a pro- an erect shr. (xyii. 



cumbent shr. medius). 



MELICOCCA. 



A few species of stove trees (prd. Sapindacea;) 

 with edible berries of pleasant flavour. Uipened 

 shoots may be rooted in sand, under a bell-glass, 

 with bottom heat. Soil, loam and sandy peat in 

 equal parts. 



Principal Species : 



bijuga, 40' to 50', st., yel.; berry as large as 

 a Bullace, blk., very sweet. Honey Berry, Genip 

 Tree. 



MELILOTUS. (MELILOT.) 



A rather large genus (prd. Legurninosoe) of hardy 

 herbaceous plants, with yellow or white flowers, 

 to which bees are partial. Propagation is by seeds 

 and root divisions. Any ordinary soil. They are 

 not of any special decorative value. 



MELISSA. 



Three or four species of hardy perennial herbs or 

 sub-shrubs (prd. Labiatie) possessed of a strong 

 essential oil. They have white or yellow flowers, 

 and are of easy culture in any fairly good garden 

 soil. The most important member of the genus is 

 officinalis, which has already been dealt with under 

 BALM. 



Principal Species and Variety : 



officinalis, 2' to 4', Je., variegata, a variegated 



Oct. , hdy. , wh. or pale form occasionally used 



yel. Britain. Common as an edging to flower 



Bulm. beds. 



MELITTIS. (BASTARD BALM., 

 A handsome hardy perennial (ord. Labiatte), 

 indigenous to Britain. It may be increased by root 

 division after flowering is over. Any ordinary 

 garden soil will do, and the plant will thrive almost 

 anywhere. It makes a capital subject for the 

 margins of shrubberies, and is well deserving of a 

 place in the herbaceous border. 



Only Species : 



Melissophyllum, 1' to 1J', My., creamy wh., 

 spotted pk. Var. grandiflora has cream flowers 

 with a pur. red lip. (Melissophyllum of Thunberg 

 is Rehmannia chinensis.) 



Melidora (in part, see Enkianthus). 

 Melilot (see Melilotvs). 

 Melinoipennitnt (see Itichilus). 

 Melinum (see Zizania}. 

 Melloca (see Ullueui). 



