MELIA COMPOSITA. (Willd.— Nat. order Meliacese.) 



MELIA. (Linn.) Qen. PI. p. 332. — GEN CHAR. Calyx 5-6, partite, lobes imbricate, petals as many as calyx lobes, spreading contorted in 

 Eesti ration. Stamens 10-12 monadelphous anthers included within the slightly dilated 10-12 fid-mouth of the cylindrical tube, ovary 3-6 celled, style 

 slender, stigma capitate, ovules 2 iu each cell superposed, fruit drupaceous with a 1-5 celled bony putamen — trees, leaves alternate 2-3 pinnate (or simply 

 pinnate), panicles ample axillary usually collected towards the ends of the branches. 



M.ELIA COMPOSIT. (Willd.) Young shoots petioles and panicles very mealy, leaves bi-tripinuate alternate 12 to 18 inches 

 long, pinna about 3 pair, leaflets 3-7 pair to each pinna?, ovate acuminate crenulated glabrous 2 to 3 inches long, panicles axillary 

 scarcely half the length of the leaves, flowers numerous small whitish inodorous, calyx and petals mealy, stigma large with a 5 pointed 

 apex, drupe ovate the size of a large olive, smooth and yellowish green when ripe. — W. A. prod: p. 117. — Melia robusta. Roxb. Fl. 

 Ind. ii. p. 397.— M. superba. Roxb. 1. c. p. 396. 



A very large and most handsome tree with a smooth dark brown bark. Common in Malabar, Wynaad, Coorg, Mysore, and South Canara 

 and other parts of our Presidency. It is known to natives by the name of MallayVemboo which is applied also to Melia Azadarach, and its timber 

 is often used by planters for building purposes ; it may however be said to be scarcely known in our Presidency, and as a quick growing tree of great 

 ornament it is very desirable it should be introduced to Madras and elsewhere for avenues and ornamental planting —it seeds well and grows readily 

 from seeds. Seeds sent by Dr. Berry many years ago from Malabar to the Calcutta Botanical Gardens produced in 7 years trees of a height of 

 46 feet and a circumference of 44 inches 4 feet from the ground. It is common in Ceylon and is known by the native name of Lunu Midelld, and 

 Mr. Ferguson of that Island says the limber is very light and cedar-like and in use for outriggers of boats and for ceilings, and that it is said 

 v)hite-ants will not attack it. 



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