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MEL 36-1- MEL MEL 365 MEN
I
excelsa. . . White . 7, G. Ev. T. 40 E. Ind. . 1819
guineénsis . Wbt.red 7, S. Ev. T. 20 Guinea . 1824
robusta . . Wht.ved 7. G. Ev. T. 20 E. Ind. . lS-20
senipervirens Brown . 7, S. Ev. T. 20 Jamaica . 1656
saperba . . Wht. red 7, S. Ev. T. 20 E. Ind. . 1810
MELIÁCEÍE, or MELIADS. Small trees and
shrubs, not "witliout beauty, and many species
are employed in medicine.
MELIÁNTIIUS, Linn. From mel, honey, and
anthos, a flower ; tlie ilowers are full of honey.
Linn. 4, Or. 1, Nat. Or. Z\jpo])hijllàceoe, Ornamental
shrubs, thriving in any light rich
soil ; and cuttings root freely under a glass,
comôsus . . Yellow . 6, G. Ev.'s. 2 0. G. H. . 1820
nuijor . . . Brown . 6, 11. Ev. S. 10 C. G. H. . 1688
minor. . . Brown . 6, G. Ev. S. 6 C. G. H. . 1696
MÉLICA, lÂnn. From mel, honey ; the Italian
name of the great millet. Linn. 3, Or. 2, Nat.
Oi'. Graminàccoe. Some species of this genus
are Avorth growing ; they are all of the simjplest
culture. See MoHnia.
altís.'íima . . Apetal . 7, H. Grass. 4 Siberia. . 1770
filiàta. . . Apotal . 7, H Grass. 3 Europe. . 1771
nutans . . Apetal . 6, H. Grass. IJ Britiiin, mta.
uniflora . . Apetal . 5, H. Grass. J Britain, groves.
Banhini^ digitàta, glabra, laiifolia, pyramidàlisj
speciosa, sylváticcv.
MELIC-GRASS. See Mélica.
MIÍLICHRUS, R. Brown. From melichroSy honeycoloured
; alluding to the colour of the glands
of the ilowers. Linn. 5, Or. 1, Nat. Or. Ejmcridaceoe.
These are very pretty shrubs ; for
culture and propagation, see Epdcris.
médius . . Scarlet . 5, G. Ev. S. N. S. AY. . 1824
, rotàtus . . Scarlet . 6, G. Ev. S. N. Holl. . 1824
MELICÓCCA, Jussieii. From mel^ honey, and
coccos, a berry ; the fruit is very sweet. Linn.
8, Or. 1, JSTat. Or. Sapindàceoe. These plants
are cultivated to a great extent in the West
Indies for their eatable fruits. They grow well
in a light loamy soil ; and cuttings of the
ripened wood will root in sand, under a glass,
in heat. Synonyme: Bcytàlia trijûga.
bijùga . . Yellow . 6, S. Ev. T. 12 Antilles . 1778
olivjrtífórmis Yellow . 6, S. Ev. T. 20 N. Granada 1824
paniculàta . Yellow . 6, S. Ev. T. 20 St. Domin. 1820
trijùga 1 . Yellow . 6, S. Ev. T. 20 Ceylon . . 1820
MELICÓPE, Forster. From mcl^ honey, and hope^
a division ; in allusion to the honey glands at
the base of the ovaries. Linn. 8, Or. 1, Nat.
Or. Riiiàcece. An ornamental shrub, growing
freely in loam and peat ; and cuttings of the
young wood root in sand, under a glass,
ternàta . . White . 6 G. Ev. S. 3 N. Zealand 1822
MELÍCYTUS, Forst. From mel, honey, and cytos,
a cavity ; filaments with a ineliferous cavity.
Linn. 22, Or. 6, Nat. Or. Flacottriiàcece. A
greenhouse shrub, growing freely in a mixture
of loam and heath-mould ; and ripened cuttings
planted in sand, under a glass, will
strike root readily.
ramiñórus . Rose . . 5, G. Ev. S. 3 N. Zealand. 1822
MELILOT. See Melilàtus.
MELILÔTUS, Tournefort. From mel, honey, and
loins ; honey lotus. The plants are similar to
the Lotus^ and are the favourite haunts of bees.
Linn. 14, Or, 10, Nat" Or. Fahàceoe. Yery
few of these plants are worth cultivating except
in general collections. M, arbórea is
readily increased by cuttings. The seeds of the
other kinds only require to be sown in the
open border in spring. Synonymes: 1, TIf.
dlba ; 2, M. pUccita ; 3, Trifòlium Kochiàmcm
; 4, M. vulgàris ; 5, Trifòlium Melilôtus
officinalis; 6, M. rugìdosa ; 7, M. viauritànica
; 8, M. diffusa, offlcinàlis^ petitpierriàna.
See Mcdicàgo, Pocóckia, and Trigonèlla.
altissima 1
White 7, li. B.
arbórea .
White 7, H. Ev. S.
ofìicinàlis 5
Yellow 8, H. A.
pàllida
Pa. yel. 8, H. B.
segetàlis .
Yellow 7. H. A.
suavèulens
arviénsis 8
6 France . 1816
10 Turkey . 1^'26
2 Bri t., bu shy pl.
3 Volhinia . 18lö
2 Spain . 1820
Yellow 7, H. Her. P. 3 Dahuria . 1824
Baumétti, Besseriàna 2, dentata,
grdeilis, indica, italica, Kocliiàna 3, leitcdniha
4, linearis, macrorliìza^ melanospérvia^ messanénsis,
neapolitàna, palustris, far^flòra 6, petitpierrehna,
polònica, rotiindifòlia, ruthénica,
sulcata 7, tanrica.
MÉLlNiS. See Tristègis.
MELÌSSA, Bentham. From melissa, a bee ; the
bees obtain a great quantity of honey from the
Balm. Linn. 14, Or. 1, Nat. Or. Lamiacem,
These plants will grow in common garden soil,
and are readily increased by dividing the roots.
Synonymes: 1, Thpmns càrsica, Jcynos cor sica ;
2, M. altissima, M. cordifolia j 3, Hormlniim
pyrenaicum. See Calamintha and Népeta,
altissima . . White 7, H. Her. P. 3 Greece . 1818
erètica . . Wt. pur. 6, H. Her. P. 1 Candia . 1506
microphyllal Purple 5, F. Xior. P. f Corsica . 1829
officiniills . White 7, H. Her. P. 1 S. Eur. . 1573
romàna . . White 6, H. Her. P. 1 S. Eur. .
variegàta. . White 6, H. lier. P. 1 Gardens ,
villósa 2 . White 8, H. Her. P. 1 Italy . . 1573
poij^^nthos . White 7, H. Her. P. 1 . . 1820
pyrenaica 3 . Wt. pur. 7, H. Her. P. 1 Pyrenees. 1800
MELISSOPHYLLUM. See Melitta Melissophfjllum.
.MELÌTTA, Linn. From melitta, a bee ; a name
synonymous with. Melissa. Linn. 14, Or. 1,
Nat, Or. Laoniacece. These are showy plants
when in flower, and are, on that account, well
iitted for ornamenting flower-borders andshrubberies.
They are increased by dividing
the roots in spring or autumn. Synonyme : 1,
N. grandiflòra.
Melissophyllum Flesh 5, H. Her. P. 1 En^., woods,
alpina . . . Flesh 5, H. Her. P. % Switzerl.
grandiflòra 1 . Wt. yel. 5, H. Her. P. 1 Eng., woods,
MELÌTTIS. See Melitta.
MELLIFEROUS, honey-bearing.
MELLÒCA. See Ullucus.
MELLÒCO. See Ullùcns.
MÈLO. See öiicumis Mèlo.
MELOCACTUS, C. BauMn. From melos, a melon,
and cactus; in allusion to the appearance of
the plants. Linn. 12, Or. 1, Nat. Or. CactacecB.
This is a genus of grotesque-looking
plants. They are well worthy of a place in
every collection of plants, and require precisely
the same treatment as Mammillaria. Synonymes
: 1, Cdctus Melocàctus ; 2, Ö. macracdntha
; 3, M. BesUri ; 4, EcMnocdctus polyacdntha
; 5, E. Séllowii.
amcbnus . . Li. scar. 7, S. Ev. S. ^ .1835
communis 1 . Red . 7, S. Ev. S. f W. Ind. . . 1688
viridis . . Red . 7, S. Ev. S. i W. Ind. . . 183Ö
depréssus . . Scarlet 6, S. Ev. S. \ Fernambuco 1798
excavàtus. . S. Ev. S. \ . 1834
Qrengèlu . . S. Ev. S. i St. Thos. Is. 1836
inacracántha2 Wt.red 6, S. Ev. S. f S. Amer,
macrántha . Wt. red C, S. Ev. S. ^ tí. Amer.
"^nrnf"^' í
octagònus . . Yellow 6, S. Ev. S. i Mexico ,
placentifòrmis
3 .
Red . 7, S. Ev. S. h Brazil.
polyacántha4 Red
{)yramidLLlis. Red
spmis- I -rj .
rîibris . i ^^^^
BalmiíXnus . Red
ScUòwii 5 . Red
C, S. Ev. S. ^ Brazil.
6, S. Ev. S. I Caraccas
1820
1820
1835
1834
1824
6, S. Ev. S. ^ Caraccas . .
6, S. Ev. S. i Cura^oa . . 1835
7, S. Ev. S. -è Brazil . . .
MELOCANNA, Kcempfer. From onelooi, an apple,
and Icanna, a reed. Linn. 6, Or. 1, Nat. Or.
Graminàcece. This species is nearly allied to
Bambùsa ; it is readily increased by suckers.
Synonyme : 1, Bambùsa baccifera.
bambusoìdes 1 Apetal. 7, S. Grass. 15 E. Ind. . 1818
MELÒCIHA, Linn. Altered from Melocliich, the
Arabic name of Còrcliorus olitòrius, which is
used in the East as a salad-plant. Linn. 16,
Or. 2, Nat. Or. Bijttneriacece. Plants of little
beauty. Any light rich soil suits them ; and
cuttings root freely in the same kind of soil,
under a glass, in heat. See Riedleia.
parviflòra. .Purple 7, S. Ev. S. 1 Caraccas .1820
parvifòha. . White 0, S. Ev. S 1 Trinidad . 1819
pyramidàta . Flesh 5, S. Ev. S. 1 BrazU . . 1768
tomentósa . Purple 5, S. Ev. S. W. Ind. . 1768
MELODÌNUS, Forster. From melon, an apple,
and dineo, to turn round. Linn. 5, Or. 2,
Eat. Or. Apocynàcece. Ornamental plants,
well worth cultivation for the sake of their
showy Ilowers. They grow well in a mixture
of loam and peat ; and cuttings will root in
sand, under a glass, in heat,
monogynus . White 7, S. Ev. Tw. 8 E. Ind. . 1820
parvifùlius . White 7, S. Ev. S. 6 E. hid. . 1775
scándens . . White 7, S. Ev. Tw. 12 N. Caled. . 1775
undulàtus . White 7, S. Ev. S. 8 E. Ind. .
MELON. See Cucumis Melo.
MELON-PUMPKIN. See Cucùrbita Melophpo,
MELON-THISTLE. See Melocdctus.
MELON-TURK'S-CAP. See Meloeltctiis communis.
MELOSEIRA, Agardh. From melon, a melon,
and seira, a chain ; shape of the filaments.
Linn. 24, Or.' 7, Nat. Or. Diatomacem. Very
minute species, found in salt marshes, rivulets,
—discigera, lineata, nummuloìdes.
MELÓTHRIA, Linn. From melothrón, of Theophrastus
; supposed to be Bryony. Linn. 21,
Or. 2, Nat. Or. Cucurbitàcece. Mere weeds ;
growing in any rich soil, and increased by
seeds. Synonyme: 1, Trichosánthesfo&tidissima
—fcetida 1, péndula.
MELVÍLLA. See Güphea MelvUla.
MEMBRANACEOUS, or MEMBRANOUS, having the
texture of a membrane.
MEMECYLÀCEÌE. See Melasiomàccm.
MEMIÍCYLON, Linn. From memecylon of Dioscorides
; the Greek name of the fruit of the
Arhibtus. LAnn. 8, Or. 1, Nat. Or. Melastonmcecz.
The soil best adapted to the growth
of these plants is a mixture of peat, loam, and
sand ; and cuttings of the young wood root
freely in sand, under a glass, in heat,
angu^tum . Purp. 5, S. Ev. S. 15 Mauritius . 1826
capitellàtum . Purp. 7, S. Ev. S. 10 E. Ind. . . 1796
edule . . . Purp. 5, S. Ev. T. 15 Ceylon . . 1820
gi-ánde . . . Blue 6, S. Ev. S. 20 E. Ind. . . 1824
MENIÒCUS, Desfontaines. From m.ene, the moon,
and okkos, the eye ; supposed to refer to the
shape of the seeds. LAnn. 15, Nat. Or. Brassicdcece.
A pretty little annual, well fitted for
ornamenting rock-work. The seed may be
sown where it is to remain. Synonyme: 1,
Al'^ssnm linifòlius.
linifòlius 1 . White 6, H. A. ^ Caucasus . . 1819
MENÌSCIUM, Schreber. From meniskos, a crescent
; alluding to the shape of the fructification.
Linn. 24, Or. 1, Nat. Or. Polypodiàcece.
This is a very elegant genus of ferns. They
thrive well in loam and peat, and are increased
by dividing the roots, or by seeds. Syno^-
nymes : 1, Ilemionitis prolifera; 2, Polypodium
reticidàtum ; 3, AspUninm sorbifòlium.
euspidàtum . Brn.yel. 5, S. Her. P. 1 T. of Luzon,
palusti'o . . Brn.yel. 5, S. Her. P. 2 W. Ind. .
proliferum 1. Brown 5, S. Her. P. 1 E. Ind. . 1820
reticulàtum 2 Brown 6, S. Her. P. f Martinique 1793
sorbifòlium 3 Brown 5, S. Her. P. 1 Brazil . . 1823
triphj^'llum . Brn.yel. 6, S. Her. P. 2 E. Ind. . . 1828
MENISPJÉRMUM, Linn. From mene, the moon,
and sperma, a seed ; the fruit is kidney or
half-moon shaped ; whence the English name,
Moon-seed. Linn. 22, Or. 10, Nat. Or. MenisjMrmàeece.
This genus is chiefly compopd
of hardy plants, well adai)ted for covering
arbours or trellis-woik. They grow in any
common soil, and may be increased by dividing
the roots, or by cuttings planted early in
spring in a sheltered situation, or by seeds.
Synonyjiies: 1, M. virginicum ; 2, Cissdmpelos
smilaclna. See Còcculus, Coscinium, and Tiliacéra.
amarissimum Yellow 6, S. Ev. Tw. 10 E. Ind. . 1804
canadénse . Gn.yel. 6, H. De. Tw. 10 N. Amer. 1691
lobatum 1 . Gn.yel. 6, H. De. Tw. 15 N. Amer. 1732
dauricum. . Wt.yeL 6, H. De. Tw. 10 Dauria . 1810
Lyònii. . . Purple 6, H. De. Tw. 10 N. Amer. 1823
planifòlium . Yellow 6, S. Ev. Tw. 10 E. Ind. . 1828
smilacìnum 2 Gn.yel. 6, II. Ev. Tw. 10 Carolina . 1776
MENISPERMÀCEÌÌÌ:, or MENISPERMADS. Principally
shrubs that trail and straggle in their
growth ; the ilowers are small and inconspicuous
; in a selection where show is desired
tlaey are not worth growing. They possess
strong narcotic properties, and are found useful
in medicine.
MENONVÌLLEA, Be Candolle. In honour of M.
Thiery de Menonville, an enterprising French
naturalist. Linn. 15, Nat. Or. BrassicàcecB.
Eather pretty hardy plants, growing freely in
light loamy soil, and increased by seeds,
filifòlia . . Grsh. wht. 8, H. A. 1 Chile . . 1836
lineilris , . White . . 8, H. A. 1 Chile . . 1836
MENSTRUUM, a liquor used as a dissolvent.
MENTHA, Linn. The poets celebrate Minthe, a
daughter of Cocytus, as being turned into mint
by Proserpine in a fit of jealousy. Linn. 14,
Or. 1, Nat. Or. Lamiàcece. Mints form a
well-known genus of useful herbs, with the
culture and j)vopagation of which every one is
familiar. Synonymes : 1, M. pyramidcdis ; 2,
M. crispa ; 3, M. hirsida, M. nepctoides ; 4,
M. pahtdòsa, M. poMsiris ; 5, M. rivàlis ; 6,
M. agréstis ; 7, M. pràcox ; 8, M. gènti lis ; 9,
M. Badénsis; 10, M. rubra; 11, M. acutifolia,
M. sativa; 12, M. austrìaca; 13, M.
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