Menispermacee.] THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS. 61 
principle fatal to insects, on which account the natives of India use them powdered and 
mixed with the flour of gram, or Cicer Arietinum, for occasionally washing their hair. 
5. MENISPERMACEZ. 
The plants of this family are confined chiefly to the tropics, both of Asia and America, 
though a few straggle beyond those limits. We may expect them, therefore, to be 
abundant in the eastern islands, and both the Indian and Malayan Peninsulas, 
whence they extend to 31° of N. latitude, both in the open plains from the general 
uniformity of temperature, and in the close vallies found at the foot of the hills. Many 
of the same species, indeed, are found over the whole country, as Cocculus villosus, 
cordifolius, and Rorburghianus. C. laurifolius is found in the same latitudes, but only 
in the hills, at elevations of from 3,000 to 5,000 feet. Species of Cissampelos also, as 
C. convolvulacea, and hernandifolia, have the same extent of distribution, and are enabled 
to support this great range of dryness and moisture by possessing large fleshy roots. 
As one species of this genus has been found in Siberia, so is there one indigenous to the 
Himalayas. This is C. obtecta of Wallich (perhaps C. hirsuta? Buch.), but other genera of 
this family are more interesting, as showing the analogy between the Flora of the 
Himalayas and that of China and Japan. Stauntonia, a genus originally constituted of 
only a single Chinese species, has three more species in the Himalayan mountains. 
S. latifolia and angustifolia, figured by Dr.Wallich, Tent. Fl. Nep. t. 14 and 15, I have 
found as far north as 31° of lat., at elevations of from 5,000 to 6,000 feet, in cool and 
shady situations. S. Brunoniana is found in Silhet. Species of this genus, therefore, 
extend along the whole tract of these mountains from the latter place to Gurhwal. In 
the mountains of Silhet also is found Kadsura Japonica, showing another point of analogy 
with the Flora of that island. So closely is Spherostemma allied to this genus, that 
the two species of this genus, figured by Dr. Wallich, Tent. Fl. Nep., were originally 
referred to Kadsura. SS. grandiflorum | have found within the Himalaya, on the slope 
of Mussooree and in the deep vallies at the foot of the Choor Mountain, generally near 
water, where there is warmth, moisture, and considerable shade from the luxuriant 
vegetation. The other species are found in Nepal and the mountains of Java. 
The relation of Menispermacee to Berberidee has been pointed out by botanists, but 
it seems much less in structure than in the possession of similar properties. The bark 
and wood of many species of both orders are of a yellow colour and bitter taste, and 
used as tonic and febrifuge medicines, while the berries of several of the Menispermacee, 
like those of many of the Berberidee, are edible, though an acrid poisonous or bitter 
principle, called Picrotorine, is no doubt deposited in Coccudus Indicus, the seed of 
C. suberosus, as well: as in those of C. flavescens and C. lacunosus, both used in the 
eastern islands for poisoning fish. _Cocculus palmatus, affording the well-known Columbo 
root, has been grown at Madras, and might be introduced generally into India, as far at 
least to the northward as it now grows to the southward of the Line, where C. cardifolius, 
the Galancha or Giloh, is extensively used as a tonic and febrifuge, containing, like the 
| Columba, 
