XXI. MELIACEiE 
81 
XXL MELIACE^ 
Trees ; young parts and inflorescence pubescent, otherwise 
glabrous. Leaves alternate, pinnate or 2-pinnate ; leaflets oppo- 
site or nearly so, shortly stalked, unequal-sided, not gland-dotted. 
Flowers numerous, small, regular, 2-sexual, usually sweet-scented, 
in panicles. Calyx 5- or 6-parted. Petals 5 or 6, much longer 
than the calyx, free, imbricate. Stamens 10 or 5, filaments 
united or free, anthers 2-celled. Ovary ovoid, 3-5-celled, sessile 
on a fleshy disk ; style terminal, simple ; stigma peltate, lobed ; 
ovules 2 or several in each cell. Fruit a drupe or capsule ; seeds 
1, 5 or many. 
Stamens 10-12, united in a tube. Ovules 1 or 2 in each cell . 1. Melia. 
Stamens 5, free. Ovules 8-12 in each cell . . . .2. Cedrela. 
The Mahogany tree, Swietenia Mahagoni, a native of Central America, is 
often planted in India ; there are several good specimens in the Saharunpore 
Botanical Gardens and a fine avenue at the Hoogly railway station. 
1. MELIA. The Greek name of the Ash, Fraxinus. — Asia, 
Australia. 
Trees, 20-40 ft. Leaves pinnate or 2-pinnate ; leaflets nearly 
opposite, toothed, long-pointed. Flowers honey-scented, in large, 
axillary panicles. Calyx 5- or 6-parted. Petals 5-6, narrowly 
spathulate. Stamens 10-12, filaments united in a tube, toothed 
at the top, anthers sessile within and below the top of the tube. 
Ovary 3- oT 5-celled, disk ring-shaped ; stigma 3- or 5-lobed ; 
ovules 2 in each cell. Drupe ovoid or globose ; stone 1- or 5-celled ; 
seeds one in each cell, small, smooth. 
Leaves pinnate. Flowers white . . . . 1. M. indica. 
Leaves 2-pinnate. Flowers lilac . . . . 2. M. Azedarach. 
1. Melia indica, Brandis ; FI. Br. Ind. i. 544, under M. Azadi- 
rachta, Linn. Leaves odd-pinnate, 9-15 in., crowded near the 
end of branches ; leaflets 9-13, lanceolate, 1-3 in. Flowers white, 
\ in. long. Calyx-segments 5, rounded. Petals 5. Anthers 10. 
Ovary usually 3-celled. Drupe ovoid-oblong, in., smooth, 
dark purple when ripe ; stone 1-celled, 1-seeded. 
Simla, in valleys ; March-May. — Throughout India, ascending to 5000 ft. 
The Neem tree, though not truly wild in India, is often planted and fur- 
nishes excellent timber. The bitter bark and leaves are used medicinally and 
an oil is expressed from the fruit. Held sacred by the Hindus ; wood used 
for making idols. 
2. Melia Azedarach, Linn. ; FI. Br. Ind. i. 544. Leaves 2- 
pinnate, 9-18 in. ; leaflets 3-7, ovate -lanceolate, J-l§ in. Flowers 
lilac, J-J in. long. Calyx-segments 5 or 6, acute. Petals 5 or 6. 
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