murraya

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A genus of dicotyledonous trees of the polypetalous order Rutaceæ and the tribe Aurantieæ, known by its pinnate leaves, linear awl-shaped filaments, and imbricate petals. Four species are known, of tropical Asia and the islands as far as Australia, very small summer-flow ering trees with dotted leaves, small oblong berries, and fragrant white flowers resembling orange-blossoms. M. exotica has been called Chinese box, and its large variety (sometimes regarded as a species, M. Sumatrana) Sumatra orange. The species is valuable for its perfume, and yields a bitter extract, murrayin. The seeds of M. Kœnigii afford a fixed oil called simbolee-oil. See curry-leaf.