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' 



VII. On the Indian Species of Menispermum. By Henri/ Thomas 

 Colebrookpi Esq. F.R.S. and L.S. 



Read November 2, 1819- 



Among doubtful or imperfect fruits described under barbaric 

 names by the elder Gaertner in the concluding section of his work, 

 the very last which is noticed by him* is one denominated JVal- 

 tiedde and Kcipisan Zeylonens. ; concerning which he expresses a 

 doubt whether the seeds be naked or were included in a peri- 

 carpium. 



On this subject Du Petit-Thouars, followed by Richard t and 

 Decandolle, has conjectured that the plant in question is " a spe- 

 cies of Cissampelos, of which the seed only has been hitherto de- 

 scribed %." This guess has undoubtedly approached to the truth ; 

 as the seed certainly appertains to a plant of the same natural order, 

 but perhaps of a different genus, being not improbably a variety 

 of Decandolle's Cocculus villosus ; or at least very nearly allied to 

 Menispermum hirsutum Linn., which (therein following Lamarck) 

 he considers to be but a variety of this author's M. villosum. 



I herewith submit to the inspection of the Society the deli- 

 neations of two kindred plants, from which any one, who will 

 take the trouble of comparing them with Gaertner's figure of 

 his JVal-tiedde, will be satisfied of the near agreement of the 

 fruit. 



When the similarity was first remarked by me, I was unaware 



* Tab. 180, fig. 12. f Anal, du Fruit, 47. 1 Regn. Veg. i. 532. 



that 



