Menhpermum. dioecia hexandria. 809 



economy the perfectibility of the plant is soon restored. It 

 is the same with Menispermum cordijoliitvi and tomento- 

 sum. Such uncommon care has Nature taken for the preser- 

 vation of these plants, which must, no doubt, be intended for 

 some purpose, of which we are probably still ignorant. 



Leaves remote, pctioled, cordate, acuminate, entire, smooth 

 on both sides ; lobes large, and rounded ; from ibur to six 

 inches long, and from three to five broad. Petioles colum- 

 nar, smooth, two thirds the length of the leaves. Male ra- 

 cemes one, two, three, or four from the germs of the fallen 

 leaves, over the larger naked branches, simple, round, smooth. 

 Flowers generally in pairs on their proper, slender, diverg- 

 ing pedicels; with a small, oval, fleshy bracte at their inser- 

 tion. Calyx six-leaved ; leaflets ovate, small. Petals six, 

 cuneate, inserted on the outside of the filaments, a little above 

 their base. Filaments six, expanding. Anthers four-sided. 



The leaves, indeed the whole plant, is exceedingly bitter, 

 and is employed by the Malays for the cure of intermittent 

 fevers. Captain Wright who first brought it from Su- 

 matra, said it was as powerful a febrifuge, as the Peruvian 

 bark. 



4. M.fenestratum. Gcert. Sem. i. p. 219. t. 46./! 5. 



Shrubby, scandent. Leaves cordate, in young plants pel- 

 tate, entire, from five to seven-nerved, downy underneath. 

 Inflorescence in globular umbellets, from the larger woody 

 branches. Berries covered with downy bark. 



Cingalese synonyms, Woniicol, venioel, or Bangwel- 

 f/etta. 



A native of Ceylon, where it blossoms during the cool 

 months of November and December ; and the seeds ripen in 

 May and June. 



Trunk and large branches scandent, stout, thick, and lio-- 

 neous. The wood of a deep, lively yellow colour, and of a 

 pleasant bitter taste. Leaves alternate, petioled, cordate, en- 

 tire, five or seven-nerved, smooth and shining above, very 



VOL. III. ^ X 



