460 CEDEELACEiE — AMPELIDE^E OE VITACE^. 



embryo straight, with leafy cotyledons. — Trees or shrubs with alter- 

 nate (occasionally opposite), exstipulate, simple, or pinnate leaves. 

 They are chiefly found in the tropical parts of America and Asia. 

 Under this order some include Humiriacese, which are distinguished 

 by a prolonged fleshy connective (fig. 373, p. 225), albuminous seeds, 

 and a slender embryo. Arnott includes Oedrelacese also under this 

 order. There are about 29 known genera, and upwards of 240 species. 

 Exam/pies — Melia, Trichilia, Humiria. 



The plants of this order are bitter, tonic, and astringent. Melia In- 

 dim, or Amdirachta, is used in India as a febrifuge, and its fruit yields 

 an oil which is employed for domestic purposes, and as an antispas- 

 modic. It is an ornamental tree, 40 or 50 feet high. Its Hindu- 

 stanee name is Nim, and its Portuguese name is Margosa. Its bark 

 is used as a tonic, under the name of Margosa bark. The root of 

 Mdia Azedarach, a native of China, is bitter and nauseous, and is used 

 in North America as an anthelmintic. Oils are procured also from 

 species of Trichilia and Garcvpa (fig. 603, p. 338). A warm pleasant- 

 smelling oil is prepared from the fruit of Trichilia speeiosa, which in 

 India is considered as a valuable external remedy in chronic rheumar 

 tism and paralytic affections. The bark of Garapa guinemsis has repu- 

 tation as an anthelmintic. The fruit called in the Indian Archipelago 

 Langsat, is the produce of a species of Lansium. A fragrant balsam, 

 called balsam of TJmiri, is got from the trunk of Humiria floribunda. 



Order 42. — Oedeelace.s;, the Mahogany Family. (Polypet. 

 Hypog.) Calyx 4-5-cleft, with imbricated aestivation. Petals 4-5, 

 with imbricated sestivation. Stamens 8-10, united below iuto a tube, 

 sometimes distinct, inserted into a hypogynous annular disc ; anthers 

 bilocular, acuminated, with longitudinal dehiscence. Ovary usually 

 4- or 5-celled ; ovules anatropal, pendulous ; style simple ; stigma 

 peltate. Fruit a capsule opening septifragaUy (fig. 546, p. 304 ; 

 547, p. 305). Seeds winged ; albumen thin or ; embryo straight, 

 erect ; cotyledons fleshy. — Trees with alternate, pinnate, exstipulate 

 leaves. They are found in the tropical parts of America and Asia. 

 Authors enumerate 8 genera, including 24 species. Examples — ■ 

 Cedrela, Swietenia. 



The plants of this order are bitter, and have an aromatic fragrance. 

 Swietenia Mahagoni supplies the well-known mahogany wood. Its 

 bark, as well as that of Soymida febrifuga, called Eohun bark, and 

 of Cedrela febrifuga, are used for the cure of intermittents. The wood 

 of the tree is sometimes called Bastard Cedar. Chloroxylon Swietenia 

 produces satin wood, and also yields a kind of wood-oil. 



Order 43. — Ampelidb.® or Vitace.«, the Vine Family. (Fig. 

 692.) (Polypet. Hypog.) Calyx small, nearly entire (fig. 693 c). 

 Petals 4^5, sometimes cohering above (fig. 693 p), inserted outside 

 an annular hypogynous disk (figs. 693, 694 jr) ; aestivation valvate. 



