XXII. 
COCCULUS. 
(ANAMIRTA COCCULUS.) 
The Cocculus Indicus Plant. 
SynonymMs.—Menispermum cocculus, Zina. Cocculus suberosus, Deecand. 
Anamirta cocculus, Wight and Arnott. Anamirta paniculatum, Colebr. Meni- 
spermum monadelphum, Row). in E.I.C.M., tab. 130. 
Forrien Names.—Fr.: Coque du Levant. Germ.: Kokkels kérner, Fisch- 
kérner. Swed.: Kokkelkérn. Tam.: Kakacollie verei. 
Nat. Order, MenispeRMACE”, Dec. ; Monaecta, DoDECANDRIA. 
Gen. Crar.—Flowers dicecious. Calyx of six sepals, in a double series, 
with two close pressed bracteoles. Corolla none. Male stamens united 
into a central column, dilated at the apex. Anthers numerous, covering 
the whole globose apex of the column. Female flowers unknown. 
Drupes, one to three, one-celled, one-seeded. Seed globose, deeply 
excavated at the hilum. Albumen fleshy. Cotyledons very thin, diverg- 
ing (Wight and Arnott). 
Hisrory.—The first notice of the Cocculus indicus is in the 
works of some of the Arabian physicians, but it was chiefly 
employed as a poison for fish, stupefying them and making 
them easy of capture. It has been but rarely employed as a 
medicine, and then chiefly as an external application in scabies, 
and in ringworm of the scalp. The importation of the drug into 
this country is considerably less in quantity than formerly, and 
is seldom used unless it is for the illicit adulteration of beer and 
Fig. 1. Male flower and stamens. 2. Transverse section of the seeds. 3. The 
berry. 3. Transverse section of the berry. 5. The embryo. 
