Dysoxylum.] XV. MELIACEAE. 87 



celled ; style simple ; cells 2- rarely 4-ovuled, the radicle superior. Fruit a 



drupe, berry, or capsule, indeliisceut or loculicidally 3-valved. Seeds 1 rarely 



3 or more in each cell, usually arillate. Endosperm or fleshy. Shrubs or 



trees, with alternate exstipulate leaves and paniculate flowers. 



This order comprises numerous tropical forest-trees, as the mahogany, Swietenia Mahagani : 

 the satin-wood, Ghloroxylon Swietenia; the Australian cedar, Gedrela australis, &c. It is most 

 abundantly represented in tropical Asia and America, but is rare in Africa. Gbneba, 37. 

 Species, 275. 



1. DYSOXYLUM, Blume. 

 Calyx small, 4— 5-toothed -lobed or -parted, imbricate. Petals 4—5, linear- 

 oblong, valvate, free or adnate with the staminal tube, which is cylindrical and 

 truncate or toothed at the mouth. Anthers 8—10, included. Disk shortly 

 tubular, sheathing the ovary. Ovary 3— 5-celled ; ovules 3 or rarely 1 in each 

 cell. Capsule coriaceous, 3— 5-valved, 1— 5-celled. Seeds u.sually arillate, ob- 

 long ; hilum large, coriaceous, shining. Cotyledons large. Endosperm 0. 

 Trees, often foetid, with alternate pinnate or opposite leaves and axillary panicu- 

 late flowers. 



A genus of large forest-trees, distributed through tropical Asia, the Pacific Islands, and 

 Australia. Species, about 30. One is endemic in New Zealand, and another in Norfolk Island. 



1. D. spectabile, Hook. /., Handbk. N.Z. Fl. 41. A round-headed tree, 

 20ft. -50ft. high ; trunk 1ft.— 3ft. in diameter. Leaves glabrous, unequally 

 pinnate, 9in.— 18in. long; leaflets in 3—4 pairs, petioled, broadly-oblong to 

 oblong-obovate, entire, the upper leaflets often narrowed into the petiole. 

 Panicles 6in.— 18in. long, pendulous, given off from the trunk or branches, 

 rarely axillary, shortly pedieelled. Sepals short, pubescent. Petals 5, spreading, 

 linear, free or nearly so. Staminal tube toothed. Disk forming a fluted cup 

 around the silky 3— 4-celled ovary. Style exceeding the staminal tube ; stigma 

 broadly discoid, with a curious circular lip or rim. Capsule long, pyriform or 

 obovate, 3— 4-celled ; valves coriaceous, splitting down the middle of the cells. 

 Cells 2-seeded, enveloped in a scarlet aril. — T. Kirk, Forest Fl. N.Z. tt. 64, 65. 

 Hartighsea spectabilis, A. Juss. in Mem. Mus. Par. xix. (1830) 328 ; A. Cunn., 

 Precurs. n. 597; Hook., Ic. PI. t. 616, 617; Hook, f., Fl. N.Z. i. 39. Trichilia 

 spectabilis, G. Forst., Prod. n. 188; DC, Prod. i. 633; A. Rich., Fl. N.Z. 306; 

 T. caulifiora, Banks and Sol. MSS. 



NOETH and SOUTH Islands: Mongonui to Nelson and Marlborough; D'Urville Island. 

 Sea-level to 1,500ft. Kohekohe. Aug., Sept. 



The leaves are bitter, and are said to have been used as a substitute for hops. A spirituous 

 infusion has been used as a stomachic. 



Oedee XVI.-OLACINEAE. 

 Flowers regular, hermaphrodite or rarely unisexual. Calyx small, 4-5- or 

 rarely 6-toothed -lobed or -divided, free or adnate with the disk. Petals as 

 many as the sepals, valvate, free or united into a tube. Stamens as many or 

 twice as many as the petals, hypogynous or adnate to the base of the petals. 

 Ovary free or invested by the disk, 1-celled or imperfectly 2-3-celled ; style 



