atoll research bulletin no. 392 the flora of - Smithsonian Institution ...

column fused (monadelphous), shorter than corolla, cylindric, toothed at apex, pale
yellow; stigmas yellow; fruit, about 2 to 4.5 cm across, depressed-pentagonal-globose,
usually 4- to 5-celled, coriaceous-woody, glabrous, green becoming purplish or brown at
maturity, with a yellowish gum, indehiscent, irregularly crumbling upon aging, calyx
persistent at base; seeds, 4 per cell, usually 7 to 8 mm long, ovoid to obovoid, glabrous
or silky pubescent (villous). Growing along edges of mangroves in Anetan; planted on
golf course. Specimens (73.R) have leaves scarcely cordate, almost subtruncate at base,
as in Thespesia populneodes, but have seeds villous on angles, as in T. populnea.
Considered the best wood for house construction, woodcarving, furniture and canoe
outriggers; wood also used in traditional stick games. l(73 .R) , 2, 3(58745), 4(165N),
5(57), 6, 7(27821).
MELIACEAE (Mahogany Family)
Melia azedarach L. "Indian lilac", "China berry", "Persian lilac", "pride of India"
gadong, gadung (N)
Pre-World War I introduction. Trop. Asia. Common. Small to medium tree, 3 to
12 m (rarely 15 m) high, with wide-spreading branches and coarse weak wood; leaves,
up to 50 cm or longer, alternate, bipinnate, with 3 to 7 pairs of leaflets, the lowest
pinnae sometimes once more divided (thus partly tripinnate); leaflets, 3 to 9 cm long and
1 to 3 cm wide, opposite, oblong-ovate or lanceolate, acute to acuminate, base somewhat
inequilaterally acute, serrate, glabrous; petiolules, up to 8 mm long; inflorescences,
axillary, open, many-flowered panicles, 10 to 30 cm long; calyx, 5- to 6-lobed, puberu-
lent; corolla, nearly 2 cm across, 5 (or 6)-petaled, the petals about 8 mm long, oblan-
ceolate, purple to lavender or nearly white, fragrant; stamina1 tube cylindric, as long as
petals, toothed, lilac, anthers 10; fruit, about 13 to 20 mm long, 3- to 8-locular, a
subglobose to ellipsoid, fleshy, yellow drupe, the endocarp thick, bony; seeds, 1 (or 2)
per locule, laterally compressed, the testa crustaceous. Planted ornamental and spon-
taneous on coastal strip, in strip-mined area on plateau, near the Topside Oval, and on
escarpment slopes near phosphate processing plant. 2, 3(58732), 4(l22N), 5(74), 6, 7.
Sandoricum koetjape (Burm. f.) Merr. "santol" (Philippines)
syns. S. indicm Cav. ; Melia koetjape (Burm.f.) Merr.
Recent introduction. Malesia. Extinct? Medium to rather bulky, somewhat
- d e c i d u o & r e e ; t r p ~ ~ - 2 ~ r - k ' ~ ~ w ~ ~ ~ b e~ -- s e ~
to gray smooth or slightly flaky bark; leaves, spiralled, trifoliate; leaflets, 10 to 20 cm
long, oblong-ovate, acute, rounded at base, slightly asymmetric or not, velvety-pubescent
or leathery, withering yellow or red; inflorescences in many-flowered axillary panicles,
10 to 20 cm long; calyx, 5-lobed, pubescent; corolla, 5-petaled, the petals about 1 cm