266 MENISPERMACEAE 
C. thalictroides, (L.) Michx. (Fig. 2, pl. 51.) Brure Conosn. Stem 
1 to 3 ft. high, with 2 or more sheathing bracts at its origin. Stem other- 
wise simple, at length giving off a stem for the 3-divided compound leaf, 
each division of which has 5 leaflets. The flower branch has also a smaller 
compound leaf of similar composition. Flowers small, in one or two grape- 
like clusters, greenish-purple, succeeded by blue berries. Woods in our 
area, and southward. April-May. 
3. JEFFERSONIA, Barton 
Smooth herbs with leaf stems directly from root and with a solitary 
flower also from a slender basal stem. Sepals 4; petals 8; stamens 8. 
Sepals falling early. Seed casket (capsule), a pear-shaped pod opening 
by a sort of lid near the top, rather less than half the circumference 
serving as hinge. Capsule many seeded. 
J. diphylla, (L.) Pers. Twin Lear. Plant when in flower 6 to § in. 
high, twice that in fruit. Leaves broad (bifid), each divided by a deep 
sinus at each end, These divide the leaf into two almost completely sepa- 
rated oval parts. Flowers about an inch broad, white. Woods, New 
York, westward and southward. April-May. 
4. PODOPHYLLUM, L. 
Erect herbs with poisonous rootstocks and with two or three large, 
deeply sinused leaves and from the flowering stem a solitary flower. 
Petals 6 to 9; sepals 3; stamens 12 to 18; pistil an oval-shaped ovary 
capped by a flat crown. 
P. peltatum, L. (Fig. 5, pl. 51.) May Appie. Witp MANDRAKE. 
Plant 12 to 20 in. high; leaves nearly a foot in diameter. The flower 
springs from between the stems of the large leaves. Flowering stems 
taller than those without flowers. Flower white, cup-shaped, about an 
inch in diameter on a stem rather longer than the diameter of the flower. 
Fruit an oval berry about as large as and resembling in shape an ordi- 
nary plum, yellow when ripe. Throughout our region. May. 
Famity VII.—MENISPERMACEAE. Moonsrep FAMILY 
Our only representative a woody climbing vine with alternate, 
lobed, leaves without stipules. Flowers in grape-like clusters, 
staminate and pistillate on different plants. Fruit a fleshy drupe 
with a stone-like seed. 
MENISPERMUM, L. 
Climber 6 to 12 ft. high. Leaves 4 to 8 in. wide, heart-shaped at base 
and with several sharp-pointed lobes, or none, at the circumference, 
Sepals 4 to 8, concealing the shorter petals, Stamens 12 to 24; pistils 2 
to 4. Fruit rounded. 
M. canadense, L. (Fig. 6, pl. 51.) CANADA Moonseep. Climbing 
on trees or bushes in borders of woods and along streams. Lower leaves 
broadly oval, upper somewhat lobed or scalloped. New England, west- 
ward and southward. June-July. 
