ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY. 14] 
when many new ones are added, nearly the same as they now stand. This I think will prove 
the case because the leaves, from which specific characters are usually taken, of no set o 
plants I have ever examined, afford specific characters less to be depended upon than those of 
the genus Vitis, unless perhaps Bryonia the forms of the leaves of some of the species of which 
are to the full as variable. 
Java according to Blume has 34 species of the order, and 5 genera. India has 4 genera in- 
cluding Cissus and Ampelopsis. The former of these however only differing from Vitis in having 
a quaternary in place of a quinary order of parts, with some difference of habit, and the latter 
being similarly situated, agreeing with Vicis in having a quinary order, but with the habit of 
issus, cannot be kept distinct. 
Properties AND Uses. The properties of the Grape whether recent or dried, not less 
than the products of its fermented juices, the various kinds of wine, are too well known to 
require to be dwelt upon here. e leaves of some, or perhaps most, of the species are acid, 
and some astringent, while the fruit of several are intensely acrid. ‘The berries of the Cissus 
guadrangularis, the young shoots and leaves of which are used by the native as a pot herb, are 
so exceedingly acrid, that it is sufficient to taste one, to cause in a short time the most insuf- 
ferable sense of burning all over the mouth and fauces of several hours duration. How many 
more produce similar effects I confess I have not had the courage to try, having suffered so 
severely in that instance. Generally speaking, however, I believe it may be safely assumed, 
that with the exception of the Grape-viae, none of the species possess valuable properties. [ 
have heard that the fruit of one or more species is used in this country for making vinegar, but 
as this product of fermentation can be procured from so many vegetable juices this application 
can scarcely be viewed an exccption to the general rule. 
Remarks on Genera AND Specins. The genera of this order, which are few in number, 
divide themselves as already observed into two tribes or sub-orders, the Leeaceae and Viniferae. 
Of the former Lea is the type, and indeed only certain genus, two others being placed here with a 
doubt, but neither natives of India ; the latter is represented by Vitis including Cissus and Ampe- 
lopsis, which are undistinguishable by any set of marks on which even good sectional differences 
in any other order would be established. These therefore, Mr. Brown has very justly pro- 
posed to unite, though in this, he has not been foliowed by the generality of writers. Cissus 
has a 4-lobed calyx, with 4 petals, 4 stamens, and a 4-angled disk. Vitis and Ampelopsis have 
each 5 petals and stamens, with some slight differences of habit which may enable a person 
conversant with either to distinguish the other, but a Cissus with pentandrous flowers would 
at once become an Ampelopsis or Vitis according as it retained the habit of Cissus, or ap- 
proached that of Vitis, and a tetrandrous specimen of either of the others, would become a 
Cissus. Characters so entirely dependent on number not being admitted in other families, 
neither ought they to be in this. The only other genus therefore referable to this section is 
ume’s Pt2risanthes, a Java plant, with quaternary flowers, but Ber wise well distinguished 
by a foliaceous lobately winged involucrum, with which they are furnished. Blame considers it 
intermediate between Cissus and Ampelopsis which it may be, if both are retained. 
discrimination of the species of this order is unquestionably difficult, and if the char- 
acters by which this is attempted, be taken from the foliage, the species so formed will rarely 
prove permanent, as there is no end to the variations of form to be met with in the same spe- 
cies ; nor is it easy to say which set of organs afford better characters, hence, to succeed, all 
must be laid under contribution as much so as in defining a genus in any other order. On this 
principle the specific characters of our Prodromus were constructed, and are I believe the most 
perfect so far as they extend (the Peninsular species) yet extant, but even with these, the dis- 
crimination of species from varieties is not always attainable. Subsequent experience, since 
preparing that Monagraph of the Peninsular Vitices, has not enabled me to add either new 
ies or new marks for-their more certain determination, on which account, I beg to refer to 
that work for all the information I myself possess respecting the species of this order ge 
taining to the Flora of southern India. The plates exhibit a species of each section. This 
