66 Mr, Colebrooke on the Indian Specks of Menispermum . 



inch in length. Flowers numerous, subsessile, villous, obscure- 

 green. Bractes of the umbellets obscure; of the flowers, 

 three to four, reniform, villous, pressed close to the calyx. 

 Perianth three-leaved : leaflets oval, small, very downy on the 

 outside, persistent. Petals three, ovate-oblong, acute, downy 

 on the outside, much longer than the calyx, persistent. Fila- 

 ments six, small, short, sterile, embracing the base of the 

 pistil. Germs three, very downy. Styles slender, recurved. 

 Perries (Drupes) one to three, nearly round, villous, size of a 

 large filbert, one-seeded. Seed as represented by Gaertner. 

 c?Yet unknown. 



The foregoing description was taken from specimens sent by 

 General Hay Macdowal. R. Delin. 



It is called by the Singalese Veni-vell-gettah or Bang-well-get- 

 tah : in English, the Knotted-plant. It is in repute among the 

 inhabitants of Colombo, who slice it in thin pieces and swallow 

 it, with the liquid, after steeping it in water several hours. They 

 commend it as an excellent stomachic. Macdowal. 



The General conjectured that it might be the true Colomba- 

 root. In that guess he was mistaken : but it may not improba- 

 bly possess like medicinal qualities in a less eminent degree. 

 His Singalese name of it is evidently the same with Gsertner's 

 lV<eni wal. C. 



ANAMIRTA. 

 Anamirta paniculata. 

 Menispennum heteroclitum. Roxb. Mss. 



Stem thick, woody, twining or climbing. Bark cracked, ash- 

 colour. Leaves alternate, petioled, cordate, entire, smooth, 

 deep shining green above, whitish below, 3 — 5-nerved ; with 

 many small distinct tufts of hair upon the nerves on the under- 

 side : 4 — 6 inches each way. Petioles round, smooth, length 



of 



