62 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE BOTANY OF [ Berberidea. 
Columba, a bitter principle, in conjunction with starch, The latter is separated by the 
Indian Hukeems, and prescribed in various diseases, but can be useful only as a 
demulcent. As C. platyphylla, cinerascens and ovalifolia, on account of their bitter 
principle, are used by the Brazilians for the cure of intermittent fever, so are Cocculus 
peltatus, crispus and Fibraurea employed by the Malays in eastern countries for the 
same purpose. The latter is the Mbraurea tinctoria of Loureiro, which, like C. 
Jlavescens, besides its bitter principle, yields a yellow colour to water. C. crispus 
is considered nearly as powerful as Peruvian bark, in the cure of intermittent fever. 
Cissampelos Pareira, yielding the Pareira brava, might no doubt be grown in India, if 
the indigenous species, as C. convolvulacea, used by the natives in medicine, do not 
possess similar properties, and afford an efficient substitute, as C. Mauritiana, also an 
Indian species, does in the Isle of France. The berries of Cocculus Limacia are said by 
Loureiro to be acid and edible, as are those of C. cebatha, described by Forskol as having 
an acrid taste, but from them a spirit is distilled, called khwmr-ool-majnoon; the root 
of Cissampelos obtecta, 1 found used for the same purpose in the mountains of Gurhwal. 
The fruit of both species of Stauntonia, as well as of Spherostemma grandiflorum, are 
eaten by the Hill people in the Himalayas. The species of both these genera would 
form desirable additions to the gardens of England. | 
6. BERBERIDEZ. 
The Berberidee have been said to be allied to the Menispermacee, notwithstanding 
their single ovary, which is ascribed by De Candolle to the others having become 
abortive, as happens in Ranunculacee, with the single styled species of Delphinium 
Actea, and of which the Himalayan Peonia affords an additional instance. The relation 
to Podophyllee is very evident. The Berberidee are chiefly confined to the temperate 
zone of the northern hemisphere; few have been found in India or its mountains, and 
these all belong to the genus Berberis, of which species extend from the southern parts 
of Europe along Caucasus and Hindoo-koosh to the Himalayas, but are also found on the 
Neelgherries, as well as on the mountains of South America, even to the Strait of 
Magalhaens. Of the section with pinnate leaves forming the genus Mahonia of De 
Candolle, species are found in North America, J apan, and the Himalayas, from Silhet 
to the Sutlej in Gurhwal. I have generally seen B. Nepalensis at elevations of 5,000 
and 6,000 feet, in shady situations frequently attaining an elevation of twelve feet. 
Though we have this section extending from 25° to 45° of N. latitude both in the New 
and in the Old World: to show the influence of elevation in counteracting the effects 
of latitude, B. Nepalensis is also found on the Neelgherries in 11° of N. latitude. 
: Under Menispermacee some of the properties of this tribe have béen hinted at: it may 
be added, that as Barberries from containing malic acid, are in Europe used for their 
mild a trin, en’ acid, and substituted in some northern countries for the lemon tribe, so 
do the fruit and leaves of the Indian species ‘possess the same acid properties ; 
when ripe, the fruit of all is eaten; and of one species, B. aristata moreover dried by 
the 
