442 SYSTEMATIC BOTANr. 



occur in Europe. Examples : — Coscinium, Anamirta, Jateorhiza, 

 Meuispermum, Cissampelos, Cocculus. There are 44 genera, 

 and 302 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The plants of this order are chiefly 

 remarkable for their narcotic and bitter properties. A few are 

 mucilaginous. When the narcotic principle is in excess they are 

 very poisonous. Some are valuable tonics. The more important 

 useful plants are as follows; — 



Coscinium fenestratuyn.-' According to Ainslie, the wood and bark possess 

 stomachic properties. The wood has been imported into tliis country from 

 Ceylon, and sold as true Calumba-root ; it contains much Berberine. 



Anatnirtapaniculata ( Cucculus indicus). — The fruit of this plant is poisonous. 

 It has been extensively employed for a long period as a poison for taking fish 

 and game, which it stupifies. It is also used to a great extent, (chiefly by 

 publicans,) to impart a bitter taste to malt liquor, and to increase its intoxicating 

 effects. It has been also employed externally to destroy vermin, and for the 

 cure of some skin diseases. It owes its active properties to a very poisonous 

 crystalline alkaloid contained in the seed, called Picrotoxine. The pericarp 

 also contains two other alkaloids in minute quantity, which have been named 

 Menispermine and Paramenispermine, of which but little is known. 



Jateorhiza palmatn ( Cocculus palmatus). — The root of this plant furnishes 

 the Calumba of the Materia Medica, which is extensively used as a tonic. It 

 would appear also to possess to a certain extent narcotic properties. Its active 

 properties are due to a crystalline alkaloid chilled Calumbine. 



Cissampelos Pareira The root is an article of the Materia Medica, and 



is commonly known under the name of Pareira br:tva. It possesses bitter 

 tonic, and diuretic properties. It would appear probable, however, that Cis- 

 sampelos glaberri ma, and perhaps other allied species, and even other plants 

 of the same order, may also furnish a portion of the Pareira hrava of com- 

 merce. Tlie stem possesses similar but less powerful properties ; it is how- 

 ever frequently mixed with the root. Pareira brava contains an uncrystal- 

 lizable alkaloid named Cissampeline or Pelosine. 



Natural Order 8. BERBERiDACEiE. — The Barberry Order 

 (^fiys, 846 — 849). — General Character — Shrubs ov herbaceous 

 pereimial plants. Leaves alternate (fg. 360), compound, usu- 

 ally exstipulate. The leaves are frequently apparently simple, 

 but in such cases it will be found that, the blade is articulated to 

 the petiole, which is evidence of their compound nature. (See 

 p. 156.) The stem is generally free from hairs and other 

 appendages of a similar character, but it is often spiny (Jig. 

 360). These spines are nothing more than the hardened veins 

 of some of the leaves, between which the parenchyma is not 

 developed. Sepals, 3, 4, or 6, deciduous, in two whorls (Jig. 

 767). Petals equal to the sepals in number and opposite to 

 them, or twice as many, hypogynous (Jig. 767). Stamens 

 hypogynous (Jig. 848), equal to the petals in number, and oppo- 

 site to them; anthers 2-celled, each opening by a valve from the 

 bottom to the toj) (Jigs. 848 and 528). Carpel solitary, free, 

 1-cclled (Jig. 848) ; style somewhat lateral ; stigma orbicular 

 (Jig. 848); ot?M/t'A' anatropal, attached to a sutural placenta (Jigs. 

 847 and 848). Fruit baccate, or dry and cai)sular. Seeds (Jig. 

 849) usually with a minute embryo; albumen between fleshy and 

 hairy. 



Diagnosis. — Leaves alternate, compound, very often spiny. 



