SAPINDACEX. 517 
Ampelopsis hederacea, Virginian Creeper.—The juice of the leaves and 
other parts is said to possess poisonous properties. 
Cissus.—The leaves and fruits of some species, as C. setosa, C. cord uta, 
&c., are acrid. A blue dye is obtained in Brazil from the leaves and feuit 
of C, tinctoria. 
Vitis vinifera—This very valuable plant, which is commonly known as 
the Grape Vine, has followed the steps of man into almost every region of 
the globe where the climate is at all adapted to its growth. The varieties 
of the Vine are exceedingly numerous, being more than 300. The fruits, 
under the name of Grapes, are too well known to need any particular 
description. ‘They have been in use for more than 4,000 years for the 
making of wine, vinegar, brandy, and other fermented liquors. Grapes 
possess refrigerant properties, and are hence useful in febrile and inflamma- 
tory affections. Grapes when dried are called raisins, which are largely 
used at dessert and for culinary purposes. They are also official in the 
british Pharmacopeeia under the name of Uve. Of raisins we have several 
commercial varieties, the more important of which are Valentias, Muscatels, 
and Sultanas. The Muscatels, or Raisins of the Sun, are considered the 
finest. ‘The Sultanas are remarkable for the absence of seeds. Raisins pos- 
sess demulcent and slightly refrigerant properties, but they are principally 
employed in medicine for flavouring purposes. Besides the above kinds, 
there is also a small seedless variety of raisin, commonly known under the 
name of Currants. This name is a corruption of Corinth, where they were 
originally ‘grown, but they are now chiefly obtained from Zante and the other 
Jonian Islands. The leaves and tendrils of the Vine are astringent, and 
have been used in diarrhcea ; and the sap has been employed in France in 
chronic ophthalmia.— Vitis vulpina, V. Labrusea, and other species or 
varieties, which grow wild in North America, yield fruits which are known 
as the Muscadine and Fox-grapes. These are similar, although very 
inferior in their properties, to those of the common Grape. 
Cohort 4. Sapindales.—Calyx imbricate. Gyncecium usually 
syncarpous, or rarely apocarpous ; ovules generally ascend- 
ing, with the raphe ventral. Seeds nearly always exalbu- 
minous. ‘Trees or shrubs, rarely herbs. 
Order 1. SAPINDACE, the Soapwort Order.—C haracter.— 
Usually large trees or twining shrubs, or rarely climbing herbs. 
Leaves generally compound (fig. 368), or rarely simple, alternate 
or sometimes opposite, often dotted, stipulate or exstipulate. 
Flowers (figs. 939 and 940) mostly perfect and unsymmetrical, 
sometimes polygamous. Sepals 4—5 (fig. 939), either distinct 
or united at the base, imbricate. Petals 4—5 (fig. 939), 
rarely 0, hypogynous, alternate with the sepals, imbricate, 
naked or furnished with an appendage on the inside. Stamens 
8—10, rarely 5—6—7 (jig. 939), or very rarely 20, inserted 
into the disk or into the thalamus ; filaments distinct or slightly 
monadelphous ; avthers introrse, bursting longitudinally. Disk 
fleshy or glandular, hypogynous or perigynous. Ovary usually - 
3-celled (fig. 939), rarely 2- or 4-celled, each cell containing 1, 
2 ( fig. 735), 3, or rarely more ovules ; style undivided or 2—3- 
cleft. Fruit either fleshy and indehiscent; or capsular, with 
2—3 valves. Seeds usually arillate, exalbuminous ; embryo 
rarely straight, usually curved (fig. 941) or twisted in a spiral 
