LVIII. MELIACEJ?. 



Tribe III. 8WIETENIEJE. 



Stamens united in a tube. Ovary with many-ovuled cells. Capsule septifragal 

 at the top by 3-5 bilamellate valves detached from the axis. Seeds numerous, 

 albuminous or not, usually winged, hilum lateral or apical, raphe along the wing. — 

 Leaves pinnate. 



GENEEA. 



Khaya. Soymida. Swietenia. Ohickrassia. Elutheria. 



Teibe IV. GUDBELE^. 



Stamens free. Ovary with many-ovuled cells. Capsule septifragal or loculi- 

 cidal at the top by 3-5 valves detached from the axis. Seeds numerous, compressed, 

 winged, albuminous or not. — Leaves usually pinnate. 



GENEEA. 

 Cedrela. Chloroxylon. Fliiidei-sia, 



Meliea and Cedrekcs are near Aurantiacees and Hutacete (■which see). They approach Sapindacece in 

 hypopetalism, diplostemony, union of filaments, hypogynous disk, 1-2-ovuled ovarian cells, simple style, 

 woody stem, and alternate leaves ; "but in Sapindacece the filaments, when connate, are only so at the 

 base, the stamens are inserted within the disk, and the radicle is inferior. Between Meliacecs and Humi- 

 riacetB there are also some points of analogy, founded on the insertion of the petals, the number of 

 the stamens, and the connection of their filaments, the 1-2-ovuled ovarian cells, simple style, lobed 

 stigma, berry, drupe or capsule, woody stem, and alternate and often dotted leaves. The same analogy 

 exists with Burseracece, which are distinguished by their exalbumiuous seed and folded contorted coty- 

 ledons. 



Meliece inhabit the tropics of Africa and Asia. TrichiliecB are more common, especially in Asia and 

 America. Sioietenieis and Cedrehm inhabit the tropics of both continents, and some grow in the 

 Moluccas and Australia. 



This family is useful to man both in medicine and manufactures. The acrid, bitter, astringent, and 

 aromatic principles which it possesses in various proportions are tonic, stimulating, purgative, or emetic. 

 Some species have agreeable sugary and refreshing fruits. 



Melia Azedarach is a small Asiatic tree naturalized in all warm climates, all pnits of which are bitter, 

 . purgative, vermifuge, but poisonous in large doses ; the seeds contain a fixed oil, useful for burning. The 

 fruit of M. sempervirens, or Indian Lilac, is poisonous. The bark of M. Azadirachta is bitter and power- 

 fully tonic, and the oil in its seeds is a reputed remedy for headache from sunstroke. The aromatic root of 

 Sandoricum indicum is employed for heartburn. Trichilia and Guarea, American species, are very ener- 

 getic purges and emetics. Several species of Dysoxylum have a strong smell of garlic. In Asia the bark 

 of Walsura pistidia is used to stupefy fish ; that of Carapa gidanensis is considered in America to be a 

 febrifuge, the fatty oil of its feeds (Crab-oil) is a reputed anthelminthic, and is largely used in machinery. 

 The Xylocarpi of Asia are praised as stomachics. The pulp which surrounds the seed of Milnea edulis, an 

 Asiatic species, is delicious. The pericarp of Zansitim is acidulous and sugary. Soymida fehrifug a, cele- 

 brated in India for the virtues of its bitter, astringent, and aromatic bark, is admitted by European doctors 

 among the substitutes for quinine, as is also Cedrela feh-ifiiga, a native of Jara. The Khaya used in 

 Senegal, and the Chickrassia in tropical Asia, possess the same properties. The- bitter and styptic bark of 

 Swietenia Maliogoni, a native of tropical America, is employed, mixed with quinine, in intermittent fevers. 

 The wood of most of the species of this family, often called Cedar, is esteemed, not only on account of its 

 sweet scent, but especially for its density and fine colour. The most celebrated species is the Swietenia 



