244 BIOECIA. POLYaNDRIA. 



804. MENISPERMUM. L. (Moonseed.) 



Masc. Calix subbibracteate, about 6-leaved, 

 caducous. Petals 6 to 9, glandular, minute and 

 retuse. Stamina 16, or 18 to 24. Anthers ad- 

 nata to the filaments, 4-lobed, 2-celied. Fem. 

 Flower as the male. Germs and styles S to 6. 

 Drupes niofctly solitary, l -seeded. JS^ut lunate, 

 compressed. 



Twining shrubs; Jeaves alternate, simple, often excen- 

 trically peltate or roundly cordate; flowers axillary, in 

 racemose panicles, small, and unibracteate; fruit red or 

 dark purple and pruinose. 



SPECIES. 1. M. canadense. Pluk. Phyt. t. 36. f, 2. 2. 

 'mr^rinicum- 3. Lyoni. Ph. 



A genus of about 24 species almost exclusively indige- 

 nous to India, there are also 3 species in Japan, 1 in Ara- 

 bia Felix, and 1 in Guianne. JVI. contulense is also found 

 in Siberia. The ben-ies of some of the species possess 

 the property of intoxicating fish and birds, while those of 

 the Cebatha of Forskall are said to be esculent. 



805. ZAMIA. Z. 



Jment strobiliform. — Masc. Calix consisting 

 of obovate scales. Corella none. Jinthtrs glo- 

 bose, sessile upon the scales, opening by a fis- 

 ^ire. Fem. Calix peltate scales. Corolla 

 none. Germs 2. Styles none. Berries 2, 1- 

 seeded. 



Caudex mostly shrubby, summit comose; leaves alter- 

 nate, sheathing, pinnate; cones between the terminal 

 leaves, the female ones large and simple, the masculine 

 smaller and many together. 



Species. 1. Z. iyitegrifolia. Obs. Root a somewhat 

 spherical coated tuber, the farina of which after lixivation, 

 is said to be wholesome and esculent. This is another of 

 the roots called Tuckahoe (or bread) by the aborigines. 



A genus of about 14 species indigenous to India, tropi- 

 cal America and the Cape of Good Hope, there is also 1 

 species very abundant in New Holland, the berries of 

 which are very acrid and poisonous. 



