98 
MAHOGANY. 
(Mahagon, Fr.) 
Natural Order , Cedrele^e. (R. Brown.) Linncean Classi- 
fication. , Decandria, Monogynia. 
SWIETENIA * (Linn.) 
Calyx minute, 4 to 5-lobed, deciduous. Petals 4 or 5. Stamina 8 to 10, 
united into a subcampanulate 10 toothed tube, internally antheriferous. 
j Style short ; stigina discoid, dentate. Capsule ovoid, large and woody, 
5-celled, many seeded, opening from the base upwards, with 5 marginal 
valves ; the axis large, persistent, pentangular above, 5-winged below 
with the partitions of the valves. Seeds , alated, pendulous, about 12 in 
each cell, imbricated in a double series. Embryo transverse. Coty- 
ledons confluent in and confounded with the fleshy albumen. 
Trees of warm or tropical climates, chiefly India and America, with 
hard dark reddish wood. The leaves abruptly pinnated, mostly with un- 
equal sided leaflets. Flowers in axillary or somewhat terminal loose 
panicles. 
* Named by Jacquin, in honour of Gerard L. B. Yon Swieten , archiater 
to Maria Teresa, Empress of Germany, who, at his persuasion, founded 
the Botanic Garden at Vienna. 
