33 



platyphylla is used by the Brazilians in intermittent fevers and liver 

 complaints. Its properties, like those of Cocculus cinerescens, are hio-hly 

 esteemed, and appear to be due to the presence of a bitter and tonic principle. 

 In the seed of Cocculus suberosus the bitter crystallisable poisonous princi- 

 ple has been detected, called picrotoxia. PI. Usuelles, 42. The roots of 

 the Orelha de Onca of Brazil, Cissampelos ovalifolia, are bitter, and their 

 decoction is employed with success in intermittent fevers. Ibid. no. 34. 

 Cissampelos ebracteata, also called Orelha de Onca, is reputed an antidote to 

 the bite of serpents. lb. no. 35. The root of Cissampelos pareira and 

 Abuta amara is both diuretic and aperient, and known under the name of 

 Pareira brava. Dec. The Abuta candicans of Cayenne, where it is known 

 by the name of Liane amere, is extremely bitter. Ibid. The drug called in 

 the shops Cocculus indicus is the seed of Menispermum Cocculus, and is 

 well known for its narcotic properties, especially in poisoning fishes. Never- 

 theless, according to DecandoUe, the berries of Menispermum edule Lam. 

 are eaten with impunity in Egypt ; but they are acrid, and a very intoxicat- 

 ing liquor is obtained from them by distillation. The bitter poisonous 

 principle of Cocculus indicus is the above-mentioned vegetable alkali, picro- 

 toxia. It has been supposed that a peculiar acid, called the menispermic, 

 also existed in the same plant ; but this is now known to have been merely 

 a mixture of sulphuric and oxalic acids. Turner, 653. 

 Examples. Cocculus, Menispermum, Cissampelos. 



XXIV. MALVACE^. The Mallow Tribe. 



Malvace^, Juss. Gen. 271. (1789) in part. ; Brown in Voy. to Congo, p. 8. (1818) ; Kunth 

 Diss. p. 1. (1822); Dec. Prodr. 1. 429. (1824); Lindl. Synops. p. 40. (1829); 

 Malvace.^:, § Malveae, Aug. St. Hit. Fl. Bras. mer. 1. 173. (1827.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with hypogynous monadelphous 

 stamens, concrete carpella, an ovarium of several ceils, and the placentse in 

 the axis, a calyx with valvate aestivation, 1 -celled anthers bursting longitudi- 

 nally, no disk, crumpled cotyledons, and alternate stipulate leaves with 

 stellate pubescence. 



Anomalies. In Malope the carpella are numerous, and distinct, not 

 arranged in a single row, as in the rest of the order. 



Essential Character — Sepals 5, very seldom 3 or 4. more or less united at the 

 base, with a valvate aestivation, often bearing external bractese forming an involucrum. 

 Petals of the same number as the sepals, hypogynous, with a twisted aestivation, either dis- 

 tinct or adhering to the tube of the stamens. Stamens usually indefinite, sometimes of the 

 same number as the petals, hypogynous ; filaments monadelphous; anthers \-ce\\ed, reni- 

 form, bursting transversely. Ovarium formed by the union of several carpella round a 

 common axis, either distinct or coherent ; styles the same number as the carpella, either 

 united or distinct ; stiymata variable. Fruit either capsular or baccate, its carpella being 

 either monospermousorpnlyspermous, sometimes united in one, sometimes separate or separ- 

 able ; dehiscence either loculicidal or septicidal. Seeds sometimes hairy ; albumen none, or in 



small quantity ; embryo curved, with twisted and doubled cotyledons Herbaceoiis plants, 



trees, or shrubs. Leaves alternate, more or less divided, stipulate. Hairs stellate. Pedun- 

 cles usually axillary. 



Affinities, The relation of Malvaceae with Sterculiacese, Tiliaceae, 

 Bombacece, and Elaeocarpese, is clearly indicated by their general accordance 

 in structure, and especially by the valvate aestivation of their calyx. With 

 other orders they also agree in numerous points; as, with Ranunculacese in 

 the indefinite stamens and distinct aggregated carpella of Malope ; with 



D 



