71 



has also tetrandrous flowers, with peculiarly fleshy anthers, while Geissoloma. 

 has octandrous flowers, with no peculiar fleshiness in the anthers. 



Geography. Evergreen shrubs, natives of the Cape of Good Hope. 



Properties. A subviscid, sweetish, somewhat nauseous gum-resin, called 

 Sarcocolla, is produced by Penaea mucronata (and others). It was supposed by 

 the Arabians to possess, as its name indicates, the power of agglutinating 

 wounds. Ainslie, 1. 380. It contains a peculiar principle, named Sarcocollin, 

 which has never been detected in any other vegetable matter, and having the 

 property of forming oxalic acid, being treated with nitric acid. Dec. 



Examples. Penaea, Geissoloma. 



LXII. ARISTOLOCHI.E. The Birthwort Tribe. 



Aristolochi.e, Juss. Gen. (1789) ; R. Brown Prodr. 349. (1810); Lindley's Synopsis, 224. 

 (1829)— Pistolochinje and Asabinje, Link Handb. 1. 367. (1S29.) 



Diagnosis. Apetalous dicotyledons, with indefinite ovules, a many-celled 

 ovarium, and a valvate calyx. 

 Anomalies. 



Essential Character. — Flowers rnonoclinous. Calyx superior, tubular, with 3 seg- 

 ments which are valvate in aestivation, sometimes regular, sometimes very unequal. Stamens 

 5 to 10, epigynous, distinct or adhering to the style and stigmas. Ovarium inferior, 3- or 

 6-celled ; Ovules numerous, horizontally attached to the axis ; style simple, siigmas radiating, 

 as numerous as the cells of the ovarium. Fruit dry or succulent, 3- or 6-celled, many-seeded. 

 Seeds with a very minute embryo placed in the base of fleshy albumen. — Herbaceous plants 

 or shrubs, the latter often climbing. Leaves alternate, simple, stalked, often with leafy stipu- 

 la;. Flowers axillary, solitary, brown or some dull colour. 



Affinities. These are usually stationed upon the limits of monocotyle- 

 dons and dicotyledons, agreeing with the former in the ternary division of the 

 flower, and in some respects in habit ; with the latter in the more essential 

 points of their structure. Their affinity to Cytinese, an order itself upon the 

 limits of the vascular and cellular divisions of vegetables, is undoubtedly very 

 intimate. Decandolle, in the Botanicon Gallictivi, places them between 

 Elaeagneee and Euphorbiaceae, to the former of which they approach through 

 Asarum, but -with the latter of which their relation is not obvious. To Passi- 

 floreae they may be compared, on account of the twining habit, alternate leaves, 

 and leafy habit of many species ; and Cucurbitaceae, on account of their 

 twining habit, and inferior ovarium. 



Geography. Very common in the equinoctial parts of South America, 

 and rare in other countries ; found sparingly in North America, Europe, and 

 Siberia ; more frequently in the Basin of the Mediterranean, and in small 

 numbers in India. 



Properties. These are in general tonic and stimulating ; Aristolochia is, 

 as its name implies, reputed emmenagogue, especially the European species 

 rotunda, longa, and Clematitis. An infusion of the dried leaves of Aristolo- 

 chia bracteata is given by native Indian practitioners as an anthelmintic ; fresh 

 bruised and mixed with castor oil, they are considered as a valuable remedy in 

 obstinate psora. The root of Aristol. indica is supposed by the Hindoos to pos- 

 sess emmenagogue and antarthritic virtues ; it is very bitter. Arist. odoratissima, 

 a native of the West Indies, is a valuable bitter, and alexipharmic. Jlinslie, 

 2. 5. The Aristolochia fragi - antissima, called in Peru Bejuca de la Estrella, 

 or Star Reed, is highly esteemed in Peru as a remedy against dysenteries, ma- 



