MKLIACM.K 485 



prœfloratiou ; the œstivation of tlie petals, their independence or 

 union with the tube of the androceum ; the absolute number of the 

 stamens, the form and proportions of the disk (which may be totally 

 wanting) ; the nature of the pericarp, the dimensions of the aril 

 (whose existence is not constant), and the configuration of the 

 cotyledons. The last of these characters serves to distinguish the 

 genera, as we have seen ; the first three are employed to separate the 

 ti'ibes or series whose distinctive characteristics are summed up in 

 tl]e following manner : — 



I. Melie.ï:. — Stamens monadclphous, usually united in a tube for 

 a considerable length. Free ovary with one or several biovulate 

 cells. Fruits dry or fleshy, with seeds destitute of wings, fleshy 

 albumen, usually of little thickness^ Embryo fleshy, with foliaceous 

 or plano-convex cotyledons. — Trees or shrubs," simjjle or compound, 

 3-foliolate, compound or decompound-pinaate, leaves generally 

 entire, very rarely dentate or serrate. — 6 genera. 



II. TRiCHiLiEiE. — Stamens monadelphous (rarely almost' free), 

 tube independent and united externally to the petals. Anthers 

 exserted [EutrichUlcce) or enclosed in the tube. Ovary free or very 

 rarely adherent by its base to the concavity of the receptacle. Disk 

 wanting, or short, or due to a simple thickening of the foot or base 

 of the ovary, or high, tubular {^Epiclmrideai).- Seeds without wings, 

 cxalbuminous. Embryo with thick, plano-convex, fleshy cotyledons, 

 sometimes conferruminato. Ovary with several l-2-ovulate cells. 

 Fruit dry or fleshy. — Trees or shrubs, with j^inuate leaves, leaflets 

 nearly always entire. Ovary with several 1-2-ovulate cells. Fruit 

 dry or fleshy. — 1 7 genera. 



III. SwieteniEjE. — Stamens monadelphous, in number double 

 that of the petals. Ovary cells pluriovulate. Fruit capsular, loculi- 

 cidal or oftener septifragal. Seeds generally winged with or without 

 albumen. — Trees, usually high, with com2)ouud pinnate leaves. — 

 6 genera. 



IV. CEDEEi.EiE.^ — Stamens free, in number equal to or double 

 the petals. Filaments inserted under a thick hypogynous disk. 



' Reduced to a simple membrane in certain Enum. 85, Fam. 160. — Cedrelaccts A. Juss. 



Melia and in the Oceanian Quivhia of the Mcliac, 95. — Lindl. Inirod. ed. 2, 103 ; Veg. 



section Vai-œa. Eiiigd. 461, Ord. 172.— Endl. Gen. 1053, Ord. 



■■^ Except in Xangamiix and Munronia. 226. — Ac. Theor. Sjst. Plant, 225. 



' Cedrclca: E. Bk. Flind. Vwj. 64. — An. Bk. 



