G.15) CLASSIFICATION AND DESCRIPTION 75 
many, lanceolate, sharply serrate, long- 
acuminate. Flowers inconspicuous, di- 
cecious, in loose-spreading clusters at the 
ends of the branches. The pistillate 
flowers form small, black, pea-shaped 
fruit, in loose, grape-like clusters, thickly 
covered with glands containing a bitter, 
aromatic oil, and remaining on the tree 
in winter. Medium-sized tree (20 to 40 
ft.), with Ailanthus-like leaves which 
turn bright red in autuunn, and remain 
long on the tree. Hardy as far north as 
central Massachusetts. 
ORDER X. MELIACEZ. (Metta Famity.) 
Tropical trees, including the Mahogany; represented 
in the south by the following: 
Genus 15. MELIA, 
Trees with alternate, bipinnate leaves. The flowers 
are conspicuous and beautiful, in large panicles, in the 
spring. Fruit in large clusters of berry-like drupes, with 
a 5-celled stone. 
> PripE or InpIA.) Leaves very large, 
doubly pinnate, with many obliquely 
lance-ovate, acuminate, smooth, serrate 
leaflets. Flowers small, lilac-colored, de- 
liciously fragrant, in large axillary clus- 
ters. Fruit globular, as large as cherries, 
yellow when ripe in autumn; hanging on 
through the winter. A rather small (20 
to 40 ft. high), rapidly growing, round- 
headed, popular shade-tree in the south, 
and hardy as far north as Virginia, In- 
M. Azédarach. troduced from Persia. 
