MENTZELIA 
465 
Melianthus Linn. Melianthaceae. 5 sp. S. Afr. The firs, are very 
rich in honey. 
Melica Linn. Gramineae (x). 30 sp. temp., except Austr. ; 2 in Brit, 
(melic-grass). 
Melilotus Tourn. ex Hall. Leguminosae (in. 4). 20 sp. temp, and 
sub-trop. Old World. 3 in Brit, (melilot). The firs, contain much 
honey, and are adapted to bees. 
Meliosma Blume. Sabiaceae. 45 sp. trop. As. and Am. [See Urban 
in Ber . D. Bot. Ges. XIII. 1895.] 
Melissa Tourn. ex Linn. Labiatae (vi. n). 4 sp. Eur., W. As. M. 
officinalis L. is the common balm. 
Melittis Linn. Labiatae (vi. 4). 1 sp. Eur. (incl. Brit.), M. Melisso- 
phyllum L., the bastard-barm. 
Melocactus (Tourn.) Link et Otto. Cactaceae (1. 1). 90 sp. (?) W. Ind., 
S. Am. Ribbed plants, like Cereus. Firs, produced at the top of 
the plant. 
Melochia Dill, ex Linn. Sterculiaceae. 60 sp. trop. 
Melodorum Hook. f. et Thoms. Anonaceae (4). 30 sp. Old World 
trop. 
Melothria Linn. Cucurbitaceae (11). 60 sp. trop. and sub-trop. 
Memecylon Linn. Melastomaceae (in). 100 sp. trop. 
Mendoncia Veil. Acanthaceae (11). 24 sp. trop. Am., Madagascar. 
Meniscium Schreb. Polypodiaceae. 10 sp. trop. 
Menispermaceae. Dicotyledones (Archichl. Ranales). 58 gen. with 
200 sp. trop. and warm temp. Mostly climbing shrubs with alt. 
simple leaves, in whose axils are usually serial buds (p. 42). The 
stem-anatomy is of interest. Firs, in axillary racemes (except Cissam- 
pelos, &c.), unisexual, usually dioecious. The general formula is 
K 3 + 3, C 3 + 3, A 3 + 3, G 3, but there are many exceptions. The 
calyx and sta. are often more than 6, and sometimes there is only 
1 cpl. Ovules 1 in each cpl., ventral, pendulous, semi-anatropous. 
Achene ; seed albuminous. The classification of the genera is largely 
based on the structure of the seed. A few are or have been medicinal, 
on account of the bitter principle in the roots. Chief genera: Meni- 
spermum, Cocculus, Cissampelos, Jateorhiza, Tinospora, Anamirta. 
Placed in Ranales by Benth. -Hooker, in Polycarpicae by Warming. 
Menispermum (Tourn.) Linn. Menispermaceae. 3 sp. N. temp, (moon- 
seed). 
Mentha (Tourn.) Linn. Labiatae (vi. n). 40 sp. temp, and trop. 
A very variable genus. 6 in Brit, (mint), of which M. piperita L. 
is the peppermint, M. Pulegium L. the penny-royal. From the 
former an oil is obtained by distillation and used in medicine See. 
M. viridis L. is cultivated as a pot-herb for flavouring. 
Mentzelia Plum, ex Linn. (incl. Eucnids. Zucc.) Loasaceae. 46 sp. trop. 
and sub-trop. Am. They have no stinging hairs. In some sp. the 
outer sta. are sterile. 
W. 
30 
