THE BEAD TREE FAMILY. 



461 



of 100 feet, and a diameter of 4 or 5 feet. Its -wood is light 

 and hard, and is greatly used in making household furniture. 

 The gum called Elemi is the produce of one or more species 

 of Amyris, also of Canarium commune and other plants, as 

 will be seen below. 



Jamaica Birch {Bursera giimmiferci) . A lofty tree, native 

 of Jamaica, having brown bark like the Birch Tree of Europe. 

 The fruit yields a balsamic turpentine, and on wounding the 

 bark, a white liquor is obtained, which soon hardens, and is 

 in no way different Irom Gum Elemi. Elaphrium tomen- 

 tosum and E. elemiferum, natives of Mexico, also produce 

 Gum Elemi. 



From one of those, or a species of Bursera, native of 

 Mexico, is obtained a new perfume, which has lately come 

 before the public under the name of " Lign Aloes," but it has 

 no connexion with the Lign Aloes of Scripture. 



The Bead Tree Family. 



(Meliace^.) 



Trees or shrubs, with alternate, or sometimes opj)osite, 

 simple, or compound -v^inged leaves. Flowers in panicles or 

 racemes. Petals 4 or 5, Stamens 8 to 10, united, forming a 

 long tube. Fruit a hard berry, drupe-like, or dry and cap- 

 sular. 



This family consists of about 150 known species, all 

 widely distributed throughout tropical regions, rarely beyond; 

 one species is found in New Zealand. A strong astringent 

 principle pervades the family, which when used in excess 

 becomes dangerous. 



Bead Tree or Pride of India [Melia Azedarach). A tree, 

 native of India, but more probably of China. It has now 

 become indigenous throughout Western Asia, the regions of 

 the Mediterranean, and the Southern United States of North 

 America. In Italy and other parts of the South of Europe, 

 it forms a beautiful tree ; it grows freely in the open air in 



