Meliaceae and Rhamnaceae- Introduction

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Meliaceae 
(Mahogany family)



A family of about 50 genera and 1400 species of evergreen or deciduous trees with hard, scented wood or shrubs. Meliaceae is exclusively tropical region family of the world. About 20 genera and 75 species are reported from India. 
Selected Indian genera include- 
    • Azadirachta indica (Neem), 
    • Melia azedarach (Bakain), 
    • Toona ciliata (Toon) and 
    • Walsura. Swietenia is a timber yielding species of tropical America.  
    • Xylocarpus is a mangrove genus of Meliaceae.

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE

Timber- 
Excellent timber trees of Meliaceae include:
    •  Amoora wallichii, 
    • Azadirachta indica, 
    • Carapa granatum, 
    • Cedrela odorata, 
    • Chikrassia tabularis, 
    • Chloroxylon swietenia, 
    • Dysoxylum malabaricum (white cedar), 
    • Khaya senegalensis (African mahogany), 
    • Melia azedarach (Bakain), 
    • Sandoricum koetjape, 
    • Soymida febrifuga, 
    • Swietenia mahogani (True mahogany), 
    • Toona ciliata syn. Cedrela toona (toon wood) etc.

Medicinal value-
    1. Seeds of Neem or Margosa tree (Azadirachta indica) are the source of margosa oil, used in skin diseases;
    2. Bark of A. indica is used in malarial fever while its tender twigs are used as 'datoon' (to clean teeth) and are very effective in pyorrhoea;
    3. Leaf juice of Melia azedarach is anthelmintic and its seeds are used in rheumatism;
    4. Fruits of Aglaia odorata are used in inflammation and leprosy;
    5. Bark of Carpa granatum is used in dysentery and stomach troubles;
    6. Wood oil of Dysoxylum malabaricum is used in eye and ear diseases;
    7. Bark of Soymida febrifuga is a bitter tonic and used in intermittent fever;
    8. Bark of Walsura piscidia is stimulant, expectorant and used in skin diseases.
Minor uses-
    1. Ornamental plants of family include Aglaia odorata, Melia composita, Walsura trijuga, etc.;
    2. Cedar oil used in microscopy is obtained from Cedrela odorata;
    3. Flowers of Chukrasia yield a red coloured dye.


  


Mahogany (Swietenia mahogany)


History and distribution

The Mahogany tree was discovered during the sixteenth century by the Spanish explorers in the West Indies. It was Jacquin who named it as Swietenia mahogany in 1760, in honour of Baron Von Swieten, a celebrated physician and botanist of Leyden. In India, Swietenia mahogany was first planted in Indian Botanical Garden, Calcutta in 1795 and S. macrophylla in 1872.

Uses
Based on the results of various tests like planning, boring, shaping, turning etc. mahogany can be ranked among the first grade timbers. It finishes extremely well and takes a high polish and ranks as high cabinet works especially in Europe and America. The wood can be used for ship building. It is used in manufacture of gramophone, radio and tv cabinets, pianos, models, bowls, brush backs, jewellery boxes, medicine cabinets, printer's blocks and carved wood works, rubbers, slide rulers. 

Neem (Azadirachta indica)



Uses
    1. The leaves are bitter, when fresh they are eaten with vegetables as they are considered to be disinfectant and stimulating liver function and as an appetiser.
    2. Leaves dried in the shade are used to protect books and clothes against insect attack.
    3. Leaves are also used as a poultice for boils and the decoction for ulcers and eczema.
    4. Young twigs are widely used as tooth-brushes  and are considered good for pyorrhoea.
    5. Bark is used as a bitter tonic and as an astringent.
    6. Seeds yield an oil known as neem oil which is acrid and bitter in taste. This oil is used in healing skin diseases, old wound ulcers and in rheumatism.
    7. The oil is further used in soap-making, toothpaste and tooth powder.
    8. The gum obtained from the tree as exudate is used as a demulcent tonic and catarrhal affections. It is like Acacia gum in properties and is often used as an adulterant with it.
    9. The wood is used for carving images of gods, toys, also used for agricultural implements, carts, boards and panels.



Rhamnaceae 
(Buckthorn family)

Rhamnaceae comprises 58 genera and about 900 species of shrubs or trees, often armed with spines or climbing by hooks or tendrils. The plants of this family are cosmopolitan in distribution. 
Some of the larger genera of this family are- 
    • Rhamnus, 
    • Phylica, 
    • Zizypus, 
    • Ceanothus, 
    • Frangula and 
    • Colletia. 
Selected Indian genera are- 
    • Zizypus, 
    • Helinus, 
    • Berchemia and 
    • Ventilago.

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE

    1. Ceanothus (Californian lilacs) is the most commonly grown genus for decorative purposes because of its beautiful blue, pink or white flowers. Other ornamental plants include species of Berchemia, Colletia, Discaria, Paliurus, etc.
    2. Zizyphus mauritiana (baer of India), Z. nummularia (char ber), Z.jujuba, Z. vulgaris, Sageretia oppositifolia, Hovenia dulcis (Japanese Raisin tree) are well known for their edible fruits.
    3. Green and yellow coloured dyes of commercial importance are obtained from various species of Rhamnus. A red dye is obtained from root bark of Ventilago maderaspatana.
    4. Cascara sagarda bark, a purgative, is obtained from Rhamnus purshiana.
    5. Gun powder is prepared from the wood of Zizyphus mauritiana.
    6. Ceanothus americanus (New Jersey tea) tea leaves are used as a substitute of tea.
    7. Valuable timber is obtained from Frangula alnus, Maeosopsis emini and Zizyphus chloroxylon. Wood of Gouania domingensis is used fir making chew-sticks.




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