38 



An Account of Plants, fyc. 



Christi, from which it materially differs in the seed vessel, 

 which is surrounded by a membranous wing, giving it a 

 singular appearance. The flowers are very insignificant, but 

 the seed vessels, when full formed and before they are ripe, 

 are of a vivid light green or yellow, and hanging in profuse 

 clusters, give the tree the appearance of being clothed with 

 rich flowers. The seeds are sold in the herb shops of Con- 

 stantinople, and the native Hakims, or doctors, prescribe 

 them in many complaints under the name of Xalle. They 

 are also used as a dye. 



Melia AzederachL 

 This tree does not appear to have been known to the 

 ancients, though it is now found abundantly all through the 

 Mediterranean and the Archipelago, in Europe, Asia, and 

 Africa. It is always planted in the area of a monastery, and 

 the Caloyers, or Greek monks, form the ribbed seeds into 

 beads, and hence it is called the Bead tree. The white 

 pulpy exterior of the seeds is said to be highly poisonous, 

 and Avicenna, the Arabian physician, cautions people even 

 against the leaves and wood ; hence the Arabs call it Zede- 

 racht, which signifies poison ; the seeds are never eaten by 

 birds. It is however a very beautiful tree, with large com- 

 pound pinnate foliage, and rich spikes of lilac flowers. 



Acacia Julibrissin. 

 This is an exceedingly beautiful tree, and by far the 

 largest of all the genus, and justly denominated Arbm^ea 

 by Forskal. There is one in the British Palace garden 

 at Constantinople, which measures three feet in cireumfer- 



