154 



MENISPERMA CEAL. 



[chap. 



Observe the broad medullary-rays in a cross-section of 

 the stem of any of the larger species, as Cissampelos 

 Fareira : the formation of successive concentric rings of 

 distinct vascular bundles, also well shown in cross-sections 

 of thick-stemmed species : the development of thread-like 

 adventitious roots from the stem of Tifiospora, sometimes 

 thirty feet long : the flowers of the Family, usually of 

 trimerous symmetry, but always inconspicuous and uni- 

 sexual : the two sepals united into a single scale in the 

 female flower, and the four petals united into a minute cup- 

 shaped corolla in Chsampelos Fareira: the stamens opposite 

 to the petals : the sterile stamens in the female flower of the 

 type : the characteristic horse-shoe shape of the seed. 



The Family is chiefly tropical, and nearly all the species 

 are climbers. Cocculus laurifolius of the Himalaya is ex- 

 ceptional in this respect, forming a small erect tree or 

 shrub. 



The berries of Anamirta {Cocadus indicus) are poison- 

 ous, and are used to kill fish in India. The tonic medicinal 

 Calumba-root is aflbrded by an African species oijateorhiza 

 {J. Columba), indigenous on the Mozambique coast. The 



