200 8o. MENISPERMACEAE 



usually 6, smaller than the sepals, sometimes absent. Stamens generally as 

 many as and opposite the petals. Anthers opening by shts. Carpels 3 — 30, 

 separate, more rarely solitary. Ovule i, pendulous or laterally affixed, half- 

 inverted with superior micropyle, sometimes accompanied at first by a second 

 which is soon suppressed. Fruits drupaceous. — Genera 27, species 100. 

 (Plate 47.) 



1. Sepals 4 in the male flowers, i — 2 in the female. Petals of the male flowers 



2 — 4, united below, of the female i — 3. Stamens united. Carpels 



solitary 2 



Sepals 6 — 24, rarely {Stephania) in the female flowers only 3 — 4. Petals 

 free or wanting. Carpels 3 — 30, free, rarely {Stephania) solitary. . 3 



2. Female flowers with i sepal and i petal, rarely with 2 — 3 petals, in cymes. 



Leaves broad. Usually high-climbing plants. — Species 12. Tropical 

 and South Africa. Some are used medicinally. . . Cissampelos L. 

 Female flowers with 2 sepals and 2 petals, sohtary or in pairs. Leaves 

 usually narrow. Low-growing plants. — Species 4. South Africa. 

 (Under Cissampelos L.) Antizoma Miers 



3. Sepals 6 — 8, usually 6, rarely in the female flowers 3 — 4 4 



Sepals 9 — 24 22 



4. Sepals 6 — 8 in the male flowers, 3 — 4 in the female, usually equal in length. 



Petals 2 — 4. Carpels solitary. — Species 5. Central and South Africa. 



(Including Homocnemia Miers and Perichasma Miersj Stephania Lour. 



Sepals 6 — 8 in both sexes. Petals usually 6. Carpels 3—6 5 



5. Sepals nearly equal in length 6 



Sepals very unequal in length, the outer usually much shorter than the 



inner. 7 



6. Petals none. Filaments entirely united. Anthers opening lengthwise. 



Stigmas thick, entire. — Species 5. Central Africa. (Including 



Ropalandna Stapf) Dioscoreophyllum Engl. 



Petals 6. Anthers opening transversely. Stigmas lobed. Leaves lobed. 

 — Species 2. Tropical and South-east Africa. Used medicinally. 

 " Calumba-root." latrorrhiza Miers 



7. Petals 3. Stamens 3, Filaments united beyond the middle. Anthers 



opening by a transverse slit. Flowers in spreading panicles. Leaves 

 sinuatcd or dissected. — Species 3. Equatorial West Africa. 



Syntriandrium Engl. 



Petals 5 — 8, usually 6, rarely {Tiliacora) 3, but then stamens 6 — 9 and 



leaves imdivided, very rarely (P^^z'aw^Äws) petals wan: ing. ... 8 



8. Stamens 15 — 30. Filaments imited. Anthers opening outwards by a 



transverse slit. Carpels 4 — 6. Inner sepals united nearly to the top. 

 Male flowers fascicled, female solitary. - - Species 2. Central Africa to 



Delagoa Bay Epinetrum Hiem 



Stamers 3 — 9, usually 9 



9. Filaments free or united at the base only 10 



Filaments, at least the inner ones, united to the middle or beyond . . 17 



