74 XXI. MELIACE^. ICMoroxylon. 



to the middle of tlie valves. Seeds attached to edge of dissepiments, im- 

 bricate, oblong, winged ; no albumen ; cotyledons plano-convex. 



1. 0. Swietenia, DC; Bedd. Fl. Sylv. t. 11; W. & A. Prodr. 123.— 

 Syn. Sioktenia cliloroxylon, Eoxb. Cor. t. 64; Fl. Ind. ii. 400. Satin- 

 wood. Vern. Bhirra, iihra, girya, C.P. ; Billu, hulda, Bomb. 



Young parts, petioles, and inflorescence covered with short grey pubes- 

 cence. Leaflets 20-40, shortly petiolulate, unequal-sided, obliquely-oblong 

 or semicordate, almost falcate, obtuse, about 1 in. long, glabrous, pale and 

 dotted beneath. Panicles terminal and axillary; pedicels longer than 

 flowers ; bracts small, deciduous. Petals on short claws, obovate, obtuse, 

 entire. Stamens nearly as long as petals, 5 generally shorter. Ovary 

 covered with short white tomentum. Capsule 1 in. long, glabrous, dark 

 brown when ripe. Seeds brown, angular, with broad wing at one end. 



A common tree in the Satpura range, the Dekkan, the Konkan, and the drier 

 parts of the peninsula and Ceylon. The fresh foliage appears in May, about the 

 time that old leaves fall. Fl. March, April ; the seed ripens in June, and re- 

 mains on the tree for several months. 



A small tree in Central India, in South India attaining 30-40 ft. ; trunk 

 straight, symmetrical. Bark yellow, soft, corky, J in. thick or more. Heart- 

 wood, with a beautiful satin lustre, fragrant, when seasoned greenish white, with 

 a yellow tinge, or yeUow, mottled, and feathered, close-grained. Heavy, the 

 cub. ft. weighs 51-66 lb. when seasoned, and 70-75 lb. when green. ' The 

 value of P. has been found to fluctuate between 600 and 1059, and the average 

 may be taken at 800. Has been compared to box, not found suited for engrav- 

 ing, but is excellent for turning. Employed for agricultural implements, cart- 

 bmldmg, makes beautiful furniture, and picture-frames. Imported into Eng- 

 land, used for cabinet-work and the backs of brushes. 



Obdbe XXII. OLACINE^. 



Trees or shrubs, with alternate simple exstipulate leaves. Flowers 4-5- 

 merous, uni- or bi-sexual, usuaUy rather small. Calyx small, entire, or 

 toothed, occasionally obsolete, unchanged or enlarged after flowering. 

 Petals free or more or less connate, nsuaUy valvate. Stamens as many, or 

 twice as many, as petals, free and hypogynous, or united below to the 

 petals. Ovary free or partiaUy immersed in the torus ; l-ceUed or in- 

 completely 3-5-celled ; ovules soUtary or in pairs, pendulous. Fruit 1- 

 celled 1-seeded, indehiscent. Seed usually with copious albumen and a 

 minute embryo.— Gen. PL i. 342 ; Boyle lU. 128 ; Wight lU. i. 100. 



Stamens and staminodes more numerous than petals • oalvx 



enlarging _ 'in 



Stamens all antheriferons, as many as petals : calyx minute ' ^^^' 



'^^''^^"§^'1 . ' 2. Caksjeea. 



1. OLAX, Linn. 



Shrubs or small trees, with alternate leaves, and smaU flowers Calyx 



cup-shaped, enlarging after flowering (in the foUowing specTes) Petals 



5-6, free or slightly connected by alternating fllaments. Stamens 8-12 



of which only 3-5 are antheriferous, the anantherous ones oppo^rto thl 



