cence of the former has many more flowers than that of 
the latter. It is florally perhaps closer to Aristolochia 
acutifolia Duchtr. Aristolochia medicinalis would appear 
to be somewhat intermediate between these two species. 
The former species is distributed in southern Brazil; the 
latter comes from the eastern Amazon south to Ceara. 
The flowers of Aristolochia medicinalis have externally 
a longer, appressed indumentum differing from the short, 
erect hairs of A. acutifolia; the apicule of the perianth 
in the former is larger and more obtuse than that of the 
latter. There is a significant difference also in the struc- 
ture of the seeds of the two species; the central part of 
the seed of Aristolochia medicinalis is much smaller and 
much less deeply cordate than the corresponding heart- 
shaped area in the seed of A. acutifolia, and the whole 
seed is wider in relation to its height. An interesting 
floral character of Aristolochia medicinalis is the difference 
in size of the stamens: four shorter and two longer. 
The plant is an extensive vine not uncommon on the 
overhanging vegetation, where the river bank is not sub- 
ject to deep annual flooding. 
This new species is pointed out by the Kubeo Indians 
of the Rio Kuduyari, who know the plant as da-koo-to- 
me, as both toxic and medicinal. The astringent root is 
dried and pulverized to prepare a very bitter and pungent 
infusion given to natives who suffer periodic attacks that 
would seem to be epileptic in nature. Care must be taken 
not to employ this infusion too frequently nor in doses 
too large since, according to native medicine men, it 
may cause permanent insanity and, sometimes, muscular 
paralysis. 
LEGUMINOSAE 
Ormosia Jackson 
One of the most interesting groups of toxic legumes 
is the genus Ormosia, a tropical genus of Middle and 
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