MENISPERMACEA, 457 
Uvaria febrifuga.—The fruit of this species is supposed to be the one 
which is used as a febrifuge by the Indians on the Orinoco ; according to 
Martius, however, that is ‘obtained from the Sire grandiflora, 
Xylopia.—X. aromatica (Habzelia xthiopica), DC., is commonly known 
as Piper xthiopicum. The dried fruit is used by the African negroes on ac- 
count of its stimulant and carminative effects, and also as a condiment.— 
Xylopia undulata has nearly similar properties.—Xylopia glabra yields the 
Bitter wood of the West Indies, which has tonic properties. The fruits of 
X. longifolia are used as a febrifuge throughout the valley of-the Orinoco. 
Order 7. MENISPERMACE®, the Moon-seed Order.—C harac- 
ter. —Climbing or trailing shrubs. Leaves alternate, simple, 
exstipulate, usually entire. Flowers generally dicecious, but 
sometimes imperfectly unisexual, rarely perfect or polygamous. 
Barren flower :—Calyx and corolla with a ternary arrangement 
of their parts, generally in two whorls, imbricate or valvate. 
Stamens usually distinct, sometimes monadelphous. Carpe’s 
rudimentary or wanting. Fertile flower:—Sepals and petals 
usually resembling those of the barren flower. Stamens imper- 
fectly developed, or wanting. Carpels usually 3, sometimes 6, 
commonly supported on a gynophore, distinct, 1-celled, each 
containing onecurved ovule. Fruits drupaceous, curved around 
a central placental process, l-celled. Seeds 1 in each cell, and 
curved so as to assume the form of that cell; embryo curved ; 
albumen present or absent ; when present homogeneous, or par- 
tially divided into plates or convolutions by the projection in- 
wards of the inner membranous covering of the seed. 
Diagnosis.—Trailing or climbing shrubs. Leaves alternate, 
simple, exstipulate. Flowers usually dicecious. Sepals, petals, 
stamens, and carpels with a ternary arrangement, hypogynous. 
Carpels distinct. Fruits 1-celled, curved. Seed solitary, 
curved ; embryo curved ; albumen absent, or usually small in 
amount, and then either homogeneous or somewhat ruminated. 
Miers remarks, ‘that there is probably no family so com- 
pletely heteromorphous as the Menispermacez, or which pre- 
sents such extreme and aberrant features at variance with its 
normal structure.’ Hence there is great difficulty in drawing 
up a satisfactory diagnosis of this order. 
Distribution and Numbers.—The plants of this order are 
chiefly found in the forests of the tropical parts of Asia and 
America. None occur in Europe. Illustrative Genera :—Jateo- 
rhiza, Miers; Menispermum, Tourn. There are, according to 
Lindley, about 300 species included in this order; but some 
other botanists much reduce this number. 
Properties and Uses.—These plants are chiefly remarkable 
for their narcotic and bitter properties. A few are mucilaginous. 
When the narcotic principle is in excess they are very DoSeaens 
Some are valuable tonics. 
Anamirta paniculata —The fruit of this plant, which is known as Coecu- 
lus indicus, is poisonous. It has been extensively employed for a long 
’ uv Pa = 
period as a poison for taking fish and game, which it stupefies. It is also 
