MELASTOJIA 



MELILOTUS 



1001 



E. Inflia to Austral. —Probably the J)/. Malahatlirlc u m 

 of horticulturists is one of the above species. Not known 

 to be in the Amor, trade. L H. B. 



M£LIA (ancient Greek name). Mt^Udccrr. Trees, 

 from 30 to 40 feet high: Ivs. deciduous, doubly pinnate 

 as a rule, the Ifts. acuminate, glabrous: lis. in graceful 

 panicles; sepals H-"); petals d or (i; stamens monadel- 

 phous, 10-12, of two different lengths: ovary with sev- 

 eral locTiles. topped with a single style: fr. a small, in- 

 dehiscent drupe. Species 2 or ;{, of Asia aiul Australia. 



A. Lv^. more Ih'in oilrr piiniafi'. 



AzMaraoh, Linn. This is the typical species as intro- 

 duced in the southern states early in the last century. 

 It is a native of India and Persia, hence its vririous 

 local names, as Pride of India, hnlian Lilac, Cbina- 

 berry tree, etc. It has become naturalized throughout 

 the South, the seeds germinating freely. It grows with 

 great rapidity, and forms one of the most desiratjU; 

 shade trees, both from the bright green tint of the foli- 

 age, which is ret;uued until late in the autumn, and also 

 from the fragrance of the numerous, lilac-colored flow- 

 ers, which are ]iroduced during A])ril. These are suc- 

 ceeded liy an abundant crop of berries, of a yellowish, 

 translucent color, wdiicli are readily eaten by cattle and 

 birds. The wood, although coarse, is very durable. The 

 tree can withstand a low temperature, but a cold of 

 zero will in,iure it. Several forms have been found, 

 a white-flowering and one with finely-cut leaves, with 

 the segments of the Ifts. cut in narrow divisions. These 

 formsare not constant, the seedlings frequently revert- 

 ing to the typical species. In all forms of J/. Azeilarath , 

 the Ivs. are 2- or H-pinnate, the ultimate Ifts. ovate or 

 lanceolate, anil varying from serrate to very nearly en- 

 tire. B.M. Uir.ti. 



Var. umbracuIiJ6rmis, Hort. Texas Umbrella Tree. 

 Fig. 13S7. The lirst tree that came to notice was found 







seli.lom varies; bonce it is supposed liy s 

 distinct species. The Ifts. are less liruad 

 Azedarach, and tlie brandies erect, and, ii 

 radiating from tlie trunk, the druopin^^ In 

 the tree the appearance of a gigantic uinbr 

 p. 73. 



A A . Li:' 'I I'cs on ce-j) in)iul/\ 



Azadirdclita, Linn. {M. Japdnica, H;is 

 tree, sometimes 50 ft.: Ivs. broad, with 

 acuminate, oblique, more or less serrate Ifis 

 fragrant: foliage crowded nearthe ends uT 1 

 India. — Not hardy in the Middle South. 



21. florihvnda, Carr. (R. H. 1872:470) is prol 

 j\I. Azedariu'h. It is more iirccocious and very 

 M. fictiipih-rireiis, S\v. Fvoui .iHTiiaiea. A low 

 with leave^i deeply incised. FIowits in axillary p; 

 liKht lilac, fraiirant, in constant snc.-ession. . 

 speeies. Probably only ;t forui uf Al. Azedarach. 

 P. J. Berokmans am 



ome to be a 

 than in M . 

 11 a manner, 

 iliage gi\'iiig 

 ella. Mn. H, 



k. ) . Large 

 ;i-i:. lance- 

 : tls.wliit.', 



le l>ranches. 



bly a form of 

 lioriferuus.— 



- growinj^ tree 



[inicles, small. 



.-\ greenhouse 

 B.R. 8:013. 



1 L. IL B. 



1388. Melicocca bijuga (sprays X^4) 



near the battle-field of San Jacinto. Texas, but with no 

 record of its introduction there. If the flowers are not 

 cross-pollinated with the common sort, the percentage 

 of seedlings wtiich reproduce the exact umbrella shape 



MELIANTHUS (wrf, honey, and aufhns, flower). 

 S<i i>i inJnr<'a-. Aliout I) spccii-s of evergreen slirub.s;, 

 natives uf South Africa. Can be grown out-of-doors in 

 S. Calif. Foliage has a disagreeable odor when bruised; 

 Ivs. alternate, stipulate, 0(bl-piiinate ; Ifts. uneipial- 

 sided, toothed: tis. in axillary and Terminal racemes, 

 secreting honey plentifully ; calyx laterally compresseil. 

 with or without a sac-like (trotnberance at the base, and 

 a nectar-bearing ghmd within; petals .", the anterior one 

 abortive; stamens 4, didynanious. M. If > nm ht i/fi nt(s is 

 J/, major, which has been iutmiiuced into S. Asia. 



A. CnJyr gililmit.s at husc. 

 major, Linn. Stem tiexuous, glabrous, sometimes 10 

 ft. or more in height, witli u widely cree].>ing root: Ivs. 

 j,rray, a foot or more long, the upper ones smaller; stiji- 

 ules grown together into oue lar;;e, int ra-axiUary piece, 

 attached to the lower part <.f the iietiol,- Ifts. 0-11, :!-4 

 in. long, 2 in. wid^: racemes deusely-tld., 1 ft. or muro 

 in length: bracts ovate, acuminate: tls. red-brown. 1 in. 

 long: capsule papery, 4-Iobeil at the apex, 1-lH in. 

 long: seeds 2 in each eel), black and sliinin;^. Cape. 

 B.R. 1:45. K.H. Iti(i7, p. IM. 



AA. C'i/ijxiia/ ranspirnaaslij gibbons at bai^c. 

 minor, Linn. Lvs. H-G in. lonix; stipules 2, subulate, 

 lateral, free; Ifts. II2-2 in. long, (i-IO lines wide: ra- 

 cemes G-12 in. long, subterniinal: Hs. dull red: capsule 

 obtuse at each end, scarcely 4-Iobed, 8 lines long. Caj)e. 

 Not B.M. 301, which is ]\r. 'couiosns. 



M. B. COI'LSTON. 



MELIC6CCA (Greek, honri/ bvrru; referring to the 

 taste of the fruit), ^ajiiu'h'c-cr. Two or :i species of 

 tropical fruit trees, natives of Uuiana and Trinidad. 

 Th( 'Spanish Lime, M. bijar/a, is cult, in S. Fla. and 

 s ( lilt Its fruits are about the size and shape of 

 \ lums green or yellow, and have a pleasant, grape-like 

 fl i\ ir The large seeds are sometimes roasted like 

 hcstnuts The tree grows slowly, attaining 20-nO ft., 

 and liears freely. It can be fruited in tlie 

 North under glass. Generic characters: lvs. 

 abruptly jnnnate: racemes divided: calyx 4- 

 parted; segments imbricated: petals 4; sta- 

 mens 8; disk complete; stigma peltate, suit- 

 sessile: ovary 2-celled: berry 1-2-seeded. 



bljiiga, Linn. Spanish Lime or Gtxep. 

 Fig. 13b8. Lfts. in 2 pairs, elliptical or ellip- 

 tic-lanceolate, entire, glabrous: tis. whitish, in 

 terminal racemes. Naturalized in the West 

 Indies. Bears several degrees of frost. The 

 foliage is distinct, the compound Ivs. with 

 winged petioles resembling those of ^apindirs 

 saponaria, the West Indian Soap-berry. 



MELILOTUS (Greek for hotif}/ Jofu.-^). L< - 

 guiii'ninsii'. Sweet Clover. Pcrluips a dozen 

 species of annual or biennial tall-growing, 

 j,\veet-smelling herbs, widely distributed in 

 temperate and subtropical regions. Lvs. pinnately 'A- 

 foliolate, the lfts. toothed and mostly narrow: tls. small, 

 white or vellow, in slender, long-stalked, axillary ra- 

 cemes; calvx teeth short and nearly equal; standard 



