MELIOSMA ARNOTTIANA. (Nat. ord. Sabiaceae.) 



MELIOSMA, Blume. — GEN. CHAR. Flowers hermathrodite or polygamo-disecious, sepals 4-5 unequal or sub-equal imbricate, petals 4-5 

 opposite the sepals, very unequal, 3 exterior orbicular concave, 2 interior small flat sometimes bifid, disk cupular 3-8 toothed, teeth sometimes bifid, stamens 

 5 inserted outside the base of the disk opposite the petals, very unequal free or cohering with the base of the petals, the 2 larger perfect, the 3 sterile 

 opposite the large petals, filaments flat, anthers large globose didymous, cells dehiscing by a large opening, connective much dilated saucer- shaped, ovary ses- 

 sile 2-3 celled, style simple sulcate short and thick, stigma simple or 2-3 fid, ovules 2 in each cell superposed horizontal or pendulous, micropyle inferior, 

 drupe obliquely subglobose, endocarp bony or crustaceous 1 -celled 1 -seeded (rarely 2-celled), seed with a small cavity on one side near the base, teita mem- 

 branaceous, cotyledons conduplieate, radicle incurved. Trees or shrubs generally pilose or pubescent, leaves alternate simple or pinnate, leaflets entire or 

 serrate, racemes compound thyrsiforui many flowered generally bracteated, fruit small pea like. — Millingtonia, Roxb. Fl. Ind. 1. 102. Oligostemon, Turcz. 

 Lorenzeana, Liebrn. Kingsboroughia, Liebm. 



A genus of very curious structure, Roxburgh and some other botanists have described it as with 2 stamens and 3 petals, the bifid petals 

 and sterile stamens being considered nectaries. Besides the 3 species described in this flora, which are all most abundant in this Presidency, 2 

 inhabit bengal, M. pinnata, Roxb. ; and dilleniifolia, Wall. 



MELIOSMA ARNOTTIANA. (Wight.) A large tree with a very spreading head, leaves unequally pinnate 8-16 

 inches long, leaflets 5-7 opposite or sub-opposite pair, ovate-oblong with a long acuminatum, coriaceous quite entire glabrous above 

 or the costa pubescent, densely pubescent or glabrous except the costa beneath, 2-|-5| inches long by f-^ broad, petiolules 3-6 lines 

 long, panicles axillary large covered with much rusty pubescence, often furnished with large leaf-like bractes below the lower or 2 

 lower ramifications, flowers very small and as in the generic character, calyx-segments more or less unequal generally 4 equal or sub- 

 equal and the 5th very much smaller, style persistent and spinuliform nearly at the base of the fruit. — Millingtonia Amottiana, Wight 

 III. p. 144 and lab. 53. Sapindus ? microcarpus, WA. Prod. p. 112. 



A very common tree in Southern India and Ceylon at 4000 feet and upwards ; it is very abundant at Conoor on the Nilgiris, and is a 

 most beautiful sight in June when in full blossom, its whitish panicles forming a perfect sheet of flowers over the top of the tree ; it is alsoavery 

 conspicuous tree when in flower in the mountain sholas on the Annamallays. It is called by the Burghers on the Nilgiris Euli makay (tiqer-like), 

 the heari-vjood of very old trees being striped reddish and white ; the timber is worthless, being spongy and light, but is occasionally used for 

 rafters and as firewood. 



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