102 AMPELIDE.E. 



j3. pubescens, Lam. Leaves pubescent or glabrate beneath. — Lam. Ill, t. 845. /. 1. — Of 

 ibis form 1 have seen the ripe capsule only : the Trinidad specimens are intermediate be- 

 tween both forms. — Hab. Trinidad!, Cr.; [Cuba!, Mexico! to Brazil!]. 



XXXI. AMPELIDE.E. 



Stamens 4-5, opposite to the valvate petals, inserted usually on the outside of an hypo- 

 gynous disc. Pistil syncarpous : stigma simple : ovnles 2 (-1) in each cell. Embryo mi- 

 nute, in the top of the hard, fleshy albumen : radicle inferior. — Woody plants, mostly climb- 

 ing by tendrils, which, like the peduncles, are opposite to the stipulate leaves. 



The sap contains several organic acids, of which some use is made in colonial medicine. 

 The copious, aqueous sap of Cissus sicyoides and Vitis caribaa, which is analogous to the 

 spring-sap of the grape-vine, affords a pleasant drink to travellers. 



1. CISSUS, L. 

 (Spondylantha, Prl.) 



Calyx short, subentire. Petals 4 (-5), distinct. Disc 4(-5)-lobed. Ovary 2-celIed: 

 cells 2-ovidate. Berry usually 1 (-2) -seeded by abortion. — Flowers small, umbellate: the 

 umbels compound or irichotomous. 



1. C. sicyoides, L. Stem climbing by tendrils, obtusangled -terete ; leaves simple, 

 cordate-oblong, cordate, or ovate, glabrous (or puberulous) : serratures setaceous, distant, ap- 

 pressed ; rays of the general uiubel simply bi-trichotomous ; petals 4, greenish-yellow ; style 

 long; berry snbglobose, black, one-seeded (4'" diam.). — 6Y. t. 144./. 1; P.Br. t. 4./. 

 1. 2; Jacq. Jmer. Pict. t. 20; Desc. Fl. 5. t. 309, 311; 1. t. 481.— C. ovata, Lam. 

 C. smilacina, Kth. C. venatorum, Desc. C. latifolia, Desc. Spondylantha aphylla, Prl. 

 {PI. Hank. 2. t. 53): a common monstrosity, with the inflorescence transfonned into a 

 system of equisetiform branches, as occurs likewise in C. acida. — A high climber. — Hab. Ja- 

 maica!, ZHst., A I., Wils., March; Dominica!, Imr.; S. Vincent!, Guild.; [Cuba, Mexieoi 

 to New Granada !, Guiana !]. 



2. C. trifoliata, L., Sw. {non Jacq.). Stem climbing by tendrils, angular; leaves tri- 

 foliolate : leaflets ovate, glabrous, serrate, chiefly above the middle, or subentire, the lateral 



ones oblique .- serratures accumbent, distant, setaceous ; rays of the general umbel puberu- 

 lous, usually bifid ; petals 4, scarlet (together with the pedicels) ; style long ; berry purple, 

 ovoid-globose (3"'-2"' diam.), one-seeded.— Plum. ed. Burm. t. 259./. 4; SI. t. 144./ 2; 

 Tuss. Fl. 1. /. 16; Desc. Fl. 3. t. 167.— C microcarpa, V. C. obovata, V.: the form with 

 subentire leaflets. C. caustica, Tuss. C. intermedia, Rich.: a form with the leaflets cu- 

 neate at the base. — A high climber. — Hab. Jamaica !, Dist., Al., March ; Caribbean Islands; 

 [New Granada !]. 



3. C. acida, L. Stem climbing by tendrils: branchlets (together with the leaves) 

 somewhat succulent, subterete-striated ; leaves trifoliolate .- leaflets cuneate-obovate, rounded 

 at the top, glabrous, deeply toothed above the middle : teeth contiguous, spreading, broad, 

 pointed ; rays of the general umbel simple ; petals 4, greenish-yellow ; style long ; berry 

 black, globose (2"' diam.), one-seeded.— Plum. ed. Burm. t. 259. /. 5 ; SI. t. 142. /- 6 ; 

 Jacq. Schcenbr. 1. t. 33 ; Desc. Fl. 5. t. 348. — C. emarginata, Sw. C. alata, Desc. — A 

 low climber. — Hab. Jamaica!, March, iu the low lands; Bahamas!, Swains. 



C. rhombifolia, V., of Trinidad, is doubtful •. it is to be compared with the hirsute C. alata, 

 Lam. (C. trifoliata, Jacq. Amer. Pict. t. 259./. 8. exclus. synon.). 



2. VITIS, L. 



Calyx short, subentire or obsoletely 5-lobed. Petals 5, cohering at the top. Disc 

 5-lobed. Ovary of Cissus. Berry 2(-4)-seeded. — Flowers small, umbellate: umbels in 

 dense panicles. 



4. V. caribsea, DC. Leaves broadly cordate, pointleted, glnbrescent above, rufescent 

 or whitish beneath with subtomentose down (which persists sometimes only on the nerves) 



