102 
cotyledons, are all points in wliicli tliere is an accordance between the two 
orders. The occasionally monadelphous stamens of Rutacese designate an ana- 
logy with that order, which is confirmed by the general tendency in both cases 
to produce two OMiles in each cell of the ovary. Tlie number and the relative 
position of the parts of the flower, shew an affinity with Sapindaceae, and the 
structure of the seeds of that order is often absolutely the same as that of Me- 
liacese ; their accordance in habit is incontestable, and in fact the species of the 
two orders are often mixed together in herbaria. Burseraceae and Spondiaceae 
have also their degree of affinity. Cedrelaceae are chiefly distinguished by 
their winged seeds and the stamens being in a less degree monadelphous. 
Geography. Found all over the world ; in about equal quantities in Ame- 
rica and Asia, and four times fewer in Africa ; but these proportions are possi- 
bly due to the difference in the degree that those parts of the world have been 
examined. They do not extend further to the north than 40° ; Melia Azeda- 
rach is naturalised as it were in Provence ; and an Hartighsea exists in New 
Zealand. Tlie extra-tropical species are, however, extremely rare. 
Properties. Bitter, astringent, and tonic qualities belong to the species 
of this order, but often developed in so considerable a degree as to render their 
employment dangerous without much pi'ecaution. A Brazilian plant called 
Jito is a powerful purgative, but Piso in mentioning it, warns us against the 
danger of emplo}dng it, and says that it is more often a poison than a medicine ; 
it is supposed to be a species of Guarea. Trichilia cathartica is reputed to 
have similar properties. The juice of the bark of Guarea Aubletia is a purga- 
tive and a violent emetic ; the bark of Guarea trichilioides has similar quali- 
ties. The same power is assigned to the Arabian Elcaija (Trichilia emetica). 
Jacquin says that the negresses employ the root of T. trifoliolata to procure 
abortion. The root of Melia Azedarach is bitter and nauseous, and is used in 
North America as anthelmintic ; the pulp that surrounds the seeds is said to be 
deleterious ; but this is denied by Turpin, who asserts that dogs which he has 
seen eat it experienced no inconvenience ; and children in Carohna eat the seeds 
with impunity. Ach. R. It is supposed that the Melia Azedarachta, orNeem- 
free of India, possesses febrifuge properties. See Trans, of M. and Ph. Soc. 
of Calcutta, 3. 430. A kind of Toddy, which the Hindoo doctors consider a 
stomachic, is obtained by tapping this, which is also called the Margosa-tree. 
Ainslie, 1. 453. From the fruit of the same plant an oil is obtained, which is 
fit for burning and for other domestic purposes, and, as Ach. Richard well ob- 
sers^es {Bot. Med. 708.), is another instance, after the Olive, of the pericarp 
yielding that substance which is usually obtained from the seed. This oil is 
.'^aid to possess antispasmodic qualities. DC. Blume attributes to the root of 
Sandoricum indicum properties similar to those of Melia ; but the latter has a 
repulsive odour, while the other is aromatic. It is employed against leuco- 
rhsea, combined with the bark of the root of Carapa obovata, which is bitter and 
astringent. Rumf mentions the extreme bitterness of Xylocai-pus granatum. 
An alliaceous odour found in two species of Cedrela also occurs in a very pro- 
minent degree in some species of Dysoxylum and Hartighsea; the Javanese 
mountaineers use the fruit of these trees as garlic. Blume suspects that some 
species of Epicharis have similar properties. A warm pleasant- smelling oil is 
prepared from the fruit of Trichilia speciosa, which the Indian doctors consi- 
der a valuable external remedy in chronic rheumatism and paralytic aflections. 
Ainslie, 2. 71. Some delicious fruits of the Indian archipelago, called Lang- 
sat, or Lanseh, and Ayer Ayer, are species of the genus Lansium ; they have 
a watery pulp, with a cooling pleasant taste. Milnea edulis is another plant 
of the order, with eatable fruit. See further Royle's Illustrations, p. 141. 
