MENISPERMACEiE. 



sarmentose, widely spreading, reaching to the tops of trees ; twigs 

 downy leafy. Leaves subcordate, acute, nerved, quite entire, veiny 

 above, and green, ash-coloured and downy underneath ; on long thick 

 rigid stalks. Fruit in axillary racemes ; pedicels and peduncles ash 

 coloured, villous. — According to Aublet this is the plant that yields 

 the white Pareira brava which is imported into Europe as a diuretic. 

 He says that the Creoles and inhabitants of Cayenne employ an infusion 

 as a diet drink against obstructions of the liver, to which they are very 

 subject. The same author adds that red Pareira brava is procured 

 from a variety of which the shoots and leaves underneath are covered 

 with a rufous down. 



374 



