4B8 NATI'RAI. HISTORY OF Pr.AXTS. 



Ovary cells multiovulafc. Fruit capsular loculicidal or soptifragal. 

 Seeds compressed, albumen wanting or in small quantity. — Trees 

 with leaves generally compound pinnate.' — 3 genera. 



Affinities. — The 3£dlaccce are very closely allied to the Sapin- 

 dacccv, and perhaps ought not to bo separated from them as a distinct 

 family. It is the rule, we know,^ that the Hafindacece are distin- 

 guished " by the ascendent ovules, with ventral raphe and exterior 

 micropyle, as well as by their stamens interior to the disk." But 

 we already know that there are several genera of Sapindaccce with 

 regular flowers, in which, as in the Mdiacece^ the disk disappears or 

 is interior to the stamens. The Aitonia, having the descendent ovule 

 with the superior micropyle and monadelphous stamens, although 

 their vesicular fruit brings them very near to certain Sapindacew, 

 are intermediate between these and the family now under ctmsidera- 

 tiou. There is not the slightest reason, Ave must admit, why we 

 should not attribute genera such as Hippobromus, Ilypelate^ Iluertea, 

 j\Idlcocca, to this family as to Sfipindaccte. With the same organs 

 of vegetation, a fruit often analogous, seeds frequently arillate, an 

 embryo usually exalbuminous, the Mdiacecc seem to represent a 

 regular form of Sapindacece, with disk interior to the androceuin, 

 superior radicle, and particularly with carpels constantly united, in 

 the lower part, in a plurilocular ovary. 



Uses. — It is not astonishing that the properties ^ of the Mdiacece 

 are in great part analogous to those of the Sapindacece, Those of 

 Melia are the best known and without contradiction very diverse. 

 Thus, the leaves of M. Azederach* (fig. 462-404) are emj)loyed in 

 India as stomachic and astringent. The inner bark, fruits, and roots 

 arc vennicidal, used for tape- worm and the lurabricoid Ascarides. Its 

 fruits have been said to be poisonous, although we are assured that in 



1 Unifoliolate in certain FUndersia. — Lamk, III. t. 372. — DC. Prodr. i. 621, n. 1. — 



■ See p. 385. Meu. et Del. Bid. Mat. Med. iv. 290. — 



^ Endl. JSiichirid. 351. — Lindl. Vcff. Kiwjd. Rusenth. op. cit. 763. — Lindl. Fl. JJed. 151. 



464 ; Fl. Med. 151. — Gum. Dro//. /Simpl. ed. C, iii. II. Bn. Diet. Encijcl. Se. Med. set. 2, vi. 416 {Lilas 



58G. — Ro.sENTii. Si/H. PI. Diaphor. 762, 1151. des Iiidcs, de la Chine, Laurier grec, Aibre sain, 



— U. Bn. Diet. Kitcycl. ISc. Med. ser. 2, vi. 417. A. a chapclets, Margou-iier, Lotier blaiic, 



* L. Uptc. 550. — Cav. Bias. vii. 363, t. 207- Cj/yoiieiiiie, Faiix-Syconiiire, Palii.dtir). 



