; 
tonic and anthelmintic. The wood yields an inferior yellow 
dye.” Thw. . 
Some further remarks on the uses of this plant are given by 
Mr. Thwaites in a letter (dated Peradenia, August 14, 1851) to 
Mr. Hanbury, in reply to some queries of that gentleman. “The 
Menispermum fenestratum, Roxb., is taken here, I am told by an 
intelligent native, mixed with other things, in a great many com- 
plaints, and applied externally in some cases, such as for weak 
eyes, etc. The mode of preparing it, is to chop up the wood at 
the knots of the stem very small, and to boil it (with other things, 
which was particularly impressed upon me) in seven measures of 
water, until they are evaporated down to one measure. It seems 
to be one of the numerous universal medicines employed here in 
any and every complaint. It is quite impossible to get at any 
definite information from the natives as to what particular com- 
plaints certain plants are useful in. The priests, who are the 
doctors, appear to me to mystify the poor people by directing 
them to take certain leaves and roots which it often gives them 
no little trouble to find; and I think that the mind being em- 
ployed in the matter, as well as the bodily exercise the patient 
often takes to procure the valued remedies, and a certain mixture 
of faith, have more to do with the cure than the drugs, some of 
which are evidently perfectly valueless except to feed cattle.” 
Descr. Zrunk and large branches scandent, stout, thick, lig- 
neous, and knotty. The wood of a deep, lively yellow colour, and 
of a pleasant bitter taste. Leaves alternate, petioled, cordate, 
entire, five- or seven-nerved, smooth and shining above, very 
hoary underneath, sometimes acuminate, sometimes obtuse ; from 
three to nine inches long, and from two to six inches broad ; in 
young plants frequently peltate. Petioles shorter than the leaves, 
round, downy. Unmbellets or heads of flowers axillary, several 
from the same bud, on thick round downy peduncles of about 
an inch in length. /owers numerous, subsessile, villous, of a 
brownish green. Sepals brown, villous ; the three interior larger, 
pale within, and reflexed. Matz. Heads of flowers smaller than 
in the female plant. Stamens six; the three inner cohering 
nearly to their summits ; the three exterior nearly free, somewhat 
recurved. Frm. Sterile filaments strap-shaped, hairy. Styles 
much reflexed, becoming dark brown. Drupes nearly round, 
villous, of the size of a large filbert. As the fruit advances in 
size, the very short pedicel of the original flower lengthens into 
a pretty long, stout, cylindric, villous pedice/, ending in a round- 
headed receptacle, on which the one to three drupes are situated, 
Surrounded by the permanent calyx. Zhw. 
Tas. 4658. Branch with female heads of flowers and young fruit. Fig. 1. 
Portion of a branch, with male heads :—natural size. 2. Male flower. 3. Fe- 
male flower :—magnified. 4. Fruits :-—natural size. 
