Alectryon. | SAPINDACEAE. 551 
imbricating. Disc variable, usually present. Stamens 5-10, rarely fewer 
or more, generally inserted within the disc, or rarely upon it around the 
rudimentary ovary. Ovary free, 2-4-lobed with as many cells ; ovules 1 
or more in each cell. Fruit very various, capsular or indehiscent, dry or 
succulent, entire or lobed, sometimes winged. Seeds globose or compressed 
albumen usually wanting. . | 
A family containing 120 genera and about 1000 species, widely distributed in 
tropical and warm regions. Many members of the family are of economic value. Several 
of the most delicious of Asiatic fruits, such as the Litchi and Longan, are produced by 
species of Nephelium. The wood of the South African Péerovylon utile is as hard and as 
handsome as Mahogany. Many species contain bitter or astringent principles, and some 
are poisonous. The two genera found in New Zealand have the stamens inserted outside 
the disc, not inside, as in most of the species. 
Leaves pinnate. Disc 8-lobed. Capsule woody, turgid ir .. 1, ALECTRYON. 
Leaves simple in the New Zealand species. Disc wanting. Capsule 
membranous, winged 3 ed . A .. 2 DODONAEA. 
1. ALECTRYON Gaertn. 17 *&% > 
A lofty tree. Leaves alternate, pinnate, exstipulate ; leaflets entire or 
toothed. Flowers hermaphrodite or unisexual, in axillary or terminal 
many-flowered panicles. Calyx 4-5-lobed, villous within, lobes unequal, 
imbricate, Petals wanting. Disc small, 8-lobed. Stamens 5-8, inserted 
within the lobes of the disc; anthers large. Ovary obliquely obcordate, 
compressed, I-celled; style short; stigma simple or 2-3-lobed ; ovule 
solitary. Capsule coriaceous or almost woody, subglobose, turgid, with a 
flattened prominence or crest towards the top. Seed subglobose, arillate ; 
testa crustaceous ; cotyledons spirally coiled. 
A genus of 2 species confined to New Zealand. According to the most recent 
classification, the characters of Alectryon, as given above, have been enlarged so as to 
include some 16 or 18 species formerly included in Nepheliwm and other genera. As 
thus reconstituted the genus will stretch from Hawaii to New Caledonia, Australia, 
and New Guinea. 
Leaves 4-12 in. long; leaflets 4-6 pairs, 2-4 in. long, ovate-lanceolate, 
acuminate .. ig * e; $5 ae : 
Leaves 12-18 in. long; leaflets 2-3 pairs, 5-7 in. long, ovate-oblong, 
obtuse or subacute .. ae : ae 
1. A. excelsum. 
2. A. grandis. 
1. A. excelsum Gaertn. Fruct. i (1788) 216, t. 46—A handsome tree 
30-60 ft. high, with a trunk 2 ft. in diam. or more; bark black; young 
branches, leaves below, inflorescence, and capsules clothed with silky 
ferruginous pubescence. Leaves unequally pinnate, 4-12 in. long; leaflets 
46 pairs, shortly petioled, 2-4 in. long, obliquely ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, 
entire or obscurely remotely toothed, membranous. Panicles 4-12 in. long, 
much branched. Anthers large, dark-red. Ovary pilose. Capsule 4-4 in. 
long, opening transversely but irregularly. Seed large, almost globose, 
jet-black and shining, half imbedded in a bright scarlet fleshy cup-shaped 
aril—A. Ounn. Precur. (1839) n. 598; Hook. Ic. Plant. (1843) t. 570 ; 
Raoul Choiz (1846) 47; Hook. f. Fl. Nov. Zel. i (1853) 38; Handb. N.Z. Fl. 
(1864) 38; J. Kirk Forest FI. rca tt. eile ore Students’ F r (1899) 95 ; 
Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. (1906) 103. ~-C. earecktD [Ih Gl 
{ iN oUCrtavian + Onn. Mieke. tasake » ob Bl So * 
ra NortH and Sourn Istanps: North Cape to Banks Peninsula and Westland, 
f common. Ascends to 2000 ft. Titoki. October-December. 
{ Yields a tough and elastic timber, valuable for axe-handles, bullock-yokes, Xc. 
The Maoris formerly extracted an oil from the seeds. 
oo Mow Je. Pak. € .S70- 
