Illustrations of Indian Botany, Vol. 1/Meliaceae

by Robert Wight

XXXIX.-MELIACEAE.

This order is found generally distributed over the tropical parts of the globe, but of rare occurrence beyond the 40th degree of latitude. It consists principally of trees and shrubs, rarely of herbaceous plants, with alternate, rarely opposite, petioled, simple or compound, impunctate leaves, with or without stipules, and bisexual flowers, apparently disposed in racemes, corymbs, or panicles, but when more carefully examined found to consist of a regular series of dichotomies. The primary divisions for example are alternate, but each of the subdivisions soon become opposite, with a precocious subsessile flower in the fork. In this manner the terminal ramifications present the flowers in groups of three together, the middle one nearly sessile, and the lateral ones peduncled; the central flower opening before the side ones, hence, the inflorescence proceeds from the centre to the circumference, (centrifugal) and not from the circumference to centre (centrepetal) thus constituting true cymes, the reunion of which imitates, but does not constitute true panicles. This centrifugal inflorescence can be more or less distinctly traced through the wnole order, for even in those cases where reduced to a solitary flower, still the peduncle is furnished with several bracts showing the compound tendency. This arrangement of the inflorescence, the researches of M. Adrian de Jussieu have shewn to be an important character. The following character of the order is taken from Jussieu's memoir.

Calyx 3-4-5 cleft. Petals the same number, longer, free, or more or less intimately united at the base to each other or to the staminal tube. Stamens double the number, the filaments united into a tube, with the anthers opening inwards, inserted on a hypogynous disk, filaments flat, bidentate at the apex, with the anther attached in the middle between the teeth, disk various in form. Style and stigma simple, stigma capitate, or pyramidal, lobed or angled, according to the number of cells in the ovary. Ovary single, with as many cells as there are petals, sometimes fewer, (3-2) rarely multiples, (10 20) with 2, rarely 1 or 4 ovules. Fruit various, fleshy, baccate or drupacious, indehiscent, or capsular, with valvate dehiscence, the cells usually 1-seeded by abortion. Seed with or without an arillus, never winged or flat, albumen fleshy, (Melieae) or oftener wanting (Trichilieae) in the former, cotyledons foliaceous, with the radicle exserted, in the latter thick or conferuminated, with the radicle short and retracted between them.

Affinities. The most nearly related order is Cedrelaceae, with which, this was united until separated by Adr. de Jussieu for reasons which cannot but be considered satisfactory in the present state of the science, though still such as to render their proximity in the series quite indispensable as they have many characters in common, they differ principally in ihe polyspermous fruit and compressed winged seed of Cedrelaceae, to which may be added, the axillary inflorescence of the one and the t erminal of the other. The affinity existing between Meliaceae and Aurantiaceae, is shown by the dichotomous inflorescence common to both, and in the union of the filaments ob- served in a few genera of Aurantiaceae. Some more remote affinities are observed between this order and Guttiferae. The Rutaceae are distinctly allied by their staminal arrangement, the stamens in some being inserted into large bifid scales, which form an independent verticel, and still more by the two ovules in the cells of the ovary, exclusive of some minor points, but which taken together form a considerable analogy between the two. With Sapindacece a close affinity exists in the structure of the flowers and general habit of the plants, while the structure of the seed is absolutely the same. Some remote affinities can also be traced between this and Terebinthaceae.

Geographical Distribution. This is mainly a tropical order, only two or three species extending so far as 40° on either side of the line, but becoaiing more abundant as we approach that centre. In America and Asia, the number of species are nearly equal, and so far as is yet known about four times as many as has yet been observed in Africa, this may be owing to the flora of the latter continent being less perfectly known than either of the other two. The whole number known to M. Jussieu when he published his memoir was 125, but several additions have since been made, so that the order may now contain probably about 150 known species. Dr. Wallicb enumerates in his list about 50 species, but some of the supposed new ones I have ascertained not to be distinct from previously named species. Blume has 35 species from Java alone, showing how much they augment near the equator. The Peninsular flora when we wrote only presented a list of 13 species, a few have since been added.

Properties and Uses. These are of a high order and very varied character: here we find some pleasant fruits, valuable medicines, and useful timber. The fruit of Sandoricum, of some species of Lansium and of Milnea edatis, are eatable, having a watery cooling pleasant pulp; but generally, bitter, astringent, tonic qualities are the properties of this order. Some species however, are of a very different description, the juice of the bark being purgative and violently emetic. The bark of the Margosa or Neem tree (Azadirachta indica) has been beneficially employed in this country as a substitute for Peruvian bark. The leaves are every where esteemed, on account of their sanitary qualities, real or supposed, as an external application in all kinds of superficial ailments, whether the result of violence, as a bruise, cutaneous eruptions, or rheumatic pain. On the decline of small-pox it is almost invariably the practice, among the natives of this part of India, to cover the body with these leaves. From the fruit a very bitter oil is expressed. This like the olive oil is procured from the pulp of the fruit, not the kernel of the seed, and combines the bitter tonic properties of the plant, hence it is esteemed a useful anthelmintic, and is considered an excellent external application in rheumatic cases, and in some cutaneous diseases.

In the arts, the timber of the Neem tree, which is hard and durable, is found fit for ship-building, and that of some species of Melia, which attain a large size, there is reason to believe is equally valuable, though on this point my information is imperfect.

Remarks on Genera and Species. The genera of this order, which are very numerous in proportion to the number of species, are ranged under two tribes Melieae and Trichilieae. The former is distinguished by having the embryo enclosed within a thin fleshy albumen, foliaceous cotyledons, and the radicle protruded. To this division Naregamia, Munronia, Melia, Azadirachta and Malea of the Peninsular flora belong. To the latter, distinguished by having exalbuminous seed, thick cotyledons, a short radicle, commonly concealed between the cotyledons, and alternate simply pinnated leaves, with entire leaflets : Milnea, Amoora, Walsura, Sandoricum, Heynea and Xylocarpus are referable. With one exception (Munronia) all these are old established genera, and do not require further notice. Munronia first established in this work, has only three known species, one from Silhet, M. Wallichii, (Turraea pinnata, Wall.) one from Ceylon, M. pumila, R. W. Icones PI. Ind. Or. No. 91, (Melia pumila, Moon) and M. Neilgherica, from the Neilgherries and Coorg.

In habit this genus nearly resembles our genus Naregamia, so much so indeed, that. I at first supposed M. pumila a new species of that genus, and it was not until after very careful examination and comparison that I ascertained they were distinct: the principal distinguishing marks are the petals being united to the base of the staminal tube, not free, the 5 not 3-celled ovary, the superposed, not collateral ovules, and by having a membranous tube sheathing the ovary and base of the style.

Jussieu and Meisner adopt Blume's genus Aphanamixis in preference to Roxburgh's Amoora, a much older name. The former does not seem to be aware of the existence of Roxburgh's name, the latter is, and puts the question "An tamen Amoora, (Roxb.) exclusis omnibus spec, prceter A. Rohitukam, (W. and A. p. 119,) servanda, ?" in my opinion a very unnecessary question, since unless we are to depart from the old established rule of priority, which must lead to incalculable confusion, Roxburgh's name, as being the older, whatever be the number of species described under it, must be adopted in preference to a more recent one. Of this genus, under the name Aphanamixis, Jussieu enumerates three species not including either of the Indian ones, of which there are two described by Roxburgh, Fl. Ind. under the name of Andersonia : one of these was afterwards figured in the Coromandel Plants under the name of Amoora, the former name, having been in the mean time occupied by Mr, R. Brown, for a new Holland genus. Of this genus I have now three Peninsular species, namely, A. cuculata ? Roxb. A. Rohituka, W. and A. and one apparently a new species, with subsessile fruit, springing direct from the branch like figs A. ficiformis. This last I have not seen in flower, but the form of the fruit, leaves no doubt of the genus, and the absence of a peduncle either in form of panicle or spike at once distinguishes it from the other two.

These are the only additions to the order I have met with on the continent, but from

Ceylon I have specimens of a plant apparently belonging to it, and most probably a species of Xylocarpus, but which, for want of fruit I am unable with certainty to determine. The calyx is cup-shaped, ohtusely 4-lobed, the petals 4, stamens 8, the filaments forked at the apex, with the anther in the division, the ovary 4-celled, with two collateral pendulous ovules in each, stigma truncate. Should it prove a species of that genus it is probably new. The genus Munronia, I have dedicated to my friend Lieut. Munro, the late Secretary to the Mysore Agricultural and Horticultural Society, and a most persevering investigator of the plants of that portion of India. I extract the following generic character from my Icones Plantarum India; Orientalis, No. 91, where a second species is figured.

MUNRONIA, R. W.

Calyx 5, rarely 4-cleft. Petals 5, cohering at the base, with the staminal tube. Anthers 10, attached to the apex of a slender funnel-shaped tube, alternate with its teeth, exserted. A tube .sheathing the ovary and base of the style. Ovary 5-celled, cells 2-ovuled, ranged round a thick central placenta. Ovules superposed. Style filiform, stigma discoid—capitate. Capsule 5-valved, valves septif'erous, loculicidal. Seeds by abortion about 5, attached to a large pyramidal persistent placenta. Embryo enclosed in a thin fleshy albumen. Cotyledons foliaceous, radicle pointed remote from the hilum, projecting. Small erect shrubs, with the leaves congregated near the summit. Leaves pinnate; leaflets one or several pairs opposite, glabrous. Peduncles axillary, one or several flowered, flowers white, sometimes fragrant.

This genus which I have named in honor of my zealous and enterprising friend, Lieut. Munro, H. M. 39th Foot, is most nearly allied to Narejamia, but abundantly distinct and readily distinguished by its 5, not 3-celled ovary, and its superposed not collateral ovules.

M. pumila, (R. W. Icones plant. Ind. Or. No. 91) Leaves trifoliolate, the terminal one much larger than the lateral leaflets.

Melia pumila, Moon! Catalogue of Ceylon plants, p. 35.

Hab.—Ceylon.

Moon's specimens I had an opportunity of examining, and I have specimens collected by Colonel Walker.

M. Neilgherrica, (R. W.) Shrubby, leaves congested towards the summit, unequally pinnate, about 3-paired, leaflets ovate, acute, glabrous: cymes several, axillary and terminal, lobes of the calyx foliaceous, hairy.

Hab.—Neilgherries and Coorg.—Munro.

A charming low shrub, with pure white very fragrant flowers.

M. Wallichii, (R. W.) Shrubby, leaves unequally pinnate, leaflets about 3 pairs, obliquely cordate at the base, tapering towards the point.

Turrasa pinnata, Wall. PL as. rar. 2.21. tab. 119. Hab.—Silhet.

This species I only know from Wallich's plate and description, which, though defective in the analysis, agrees so well in habit as scarcely to leave a doubt of its being a species of this genus. Jussieu in his memoir remarks, that this plant does not belong to the genus Turrtea, and doubts whether it belongs to the tribe Melieee, but thinks there can be no doubt it belongs to the Triehiliew, though he is uncertain to which genus it. ought to be referred. He adds " that it seems to approach most nearly to Hartighsea, by the union of its petals with the base of the staminal tube, and by the little fleshy tube which embraces the ovary and base of the style. Dr. Wallich however, supposes that the ovary has 5 cells, with 5 erect ovules, but these characters he gives with marks of doubt, and does not know the fruit or seed." In all the points here stated, except the solitary erect ovules, a point not very easily ascertained, the plant agrees with my genus and affords additional evidence of its being a species of it and not of Hartighsea, which has a 3, rarely 4-celled ovary. On this supposition, 1 have taken the liberty of referring it here and changing the specific name as all the species have pinnate leaves.

AMOORA.

A. ficiformis, (R. W.) Leaves pinnate, leaflets ovate, oblique at the base, fruit ficiform, axillary, solitary, sub-sessile.

Hab.—In Woods. — On the Shevagherry mountains near Courtallum.

My specimens are too imperfect, being in fruit only, to admit of my giving a more detailed character. From the same locality I have a specimen of a species, also in fruit, with panicled inflorescence, in so far agreeing with Roxburgh's cucullata, which species I presume it is, and now add it also to the Peninsular flora. The three species may be thus briefly distinguished.

A. cucullata, Roxb. female flowers panicled.

A. Rohituka, female flowers spiked.

A. fieformis, female flowers axillary, solitary, or from the scars of fallen leaves, subsessile on the branches.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 54.

1. Munronia Neilgherricn, natural size.

2. A detached flower, calyx 5-sepaled.

3. Another flower, dissected, the staminal tube split open, showing the sheath of the ovary, style and stigma, calyx in this instance 4-sepaled.

4 Back and front views of anthers.

5. Ovary cut transversely, showing its 5 cells placed round a thick fleshy axis.

6. Ovary cut vertically, showing the ovules superposed.

7. A full grown capsule—natural size.

8. The same dehiscing, dehiscence loculicidal.

9. A single valve detached.

10. A seed, not quite mature—natural size.

11. The same, the testa removed, sho eing the large as yet soft albumen.

12. The same divided, showing the embryo with the radicle next the hilum—with the exceptions mentioned, all more or less mafnified.

The drawing of the plant is made from a preserved specimen—that of the fruit from a fresh capsule, both communicated by Lieut. Munro.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 55.

1. Walsura piscidia, natural size.

2. A detached flower.

3. The same, the petals removed to show the deeply cleft staminal tube.

4. Detached stamens, back and front views.

5. Stamens removed, showing the annular disk with immersed ovary, the short style and large 2-cleft stigma.

6. The ovary cut vertically.

7. The same cut transversely, 2-celled, with two collateral ovules in each.

8. A fruit full grown—natural size.

9. The same cut transversely.

10. The same opened, showing the arillus with its enclosed seed.

11. A seed detached—natural size.

12. Cut transversely—natural size.

13. A seed lobe, the radicle next the hilum —with the exceptions mentioned, all more or less magnified.

Erratum.

For Walsura friscidea on the plate read piscidia.

MELIACEÆ

MUNRONIA NEILGHERRICA.

MELIACEÆ

WALSURA FRISCIDIA. (ROXB.)