22 



DICOTYLEDONS 



stems are so transparent that the vessels conducting the sap can be 

 seen in them as dark lines when held towards the light. 



A very common tree, whose bark and leaves are in repute as medi- 

 cines, is the Neem or Margosa Tree {Melia iiidica; Kan. Bevina mara; 

 Mai. Nimbam ; Ta7n. Yembu ; Tel. Nimbamu ; San. Ravipriya), also 

 belonging to an allied order, the Meliacete. 



To the Rhamnece belongs Zizyphus jujuha {Kan. Bogari), a small 

 tree with three-nerved oval leaves in which the stipules are modified 

 into thorns. 



Of the Vine Family 

 (Anfipelidece) we mention 

 The Grape Vine ( Vitis 

 vinifera; Kan. Drakshe). 

 This is a weak shrub 

 which, with the help of 

 tendrils growing oppo- 

 site the leaves and homo- 

 logous with the main 

 axis terminating in them, 

 seeks support on other 

 plants and climbs up to- 

 wards the light. It is 

 cultivated in some parts 

 of India and produces 

 the sweet, juicy grapes 

 which are spoken of as 

 the best fruit of the whole 

 vegetable kingdom. They 

 are eaten fresh as des- 

 sert-grapes, or dried into 

 raisins. The chief use, 

 however, of this plant is 

 the wine made from the 

 grape. For the prepara- 

 tion of wine the juice is 

 first pressed out. The 

 sweet juice, tluis obtain- 

 ed, soon becomes cloudy, 

 for innumerable germs 

 (bacteria) begin to work in it. These live in the soil of the vineyard 

 and are blown by the wind on to the skin of the grapes, and thus come 

 into tlie juice of the grapes also. Here they grow and reproduce 

 themselves rapidly, and cause an important process, in the liciuid, called 

 fermentation. Two new substances are formed in it, namely alcohol 



Fig. 20. — Branch of Graj)e Vine (Vilis vinifera). 



