THALAMIFLOE^. 431 



simple, exetipulate. Flowers usually dioecious. 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 divided. 



Mier remarks, " that there is probably no family so completely 

 heteromorphous as the Menisperniaceae, or presents 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. 



Blstrihution, ^'c. — The plants of this order are chiefly found 

 in the forests of the tropical parts of Asia and America. None 

 occur in Europe. Examples of the Genera : —Coscminm, Meni- 

 spermum, Cocculus. There are about 340 species included in 

 this order. 



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 : — 



Anamirta Cocculus or A. pavieitlata. — The fruit of this plant, which is 

 known as Coccuhis indicus, 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 impait a bitter taste 

 to malt liquor, and to increase its intoxicating effects. In the year 1866, no 

 less than -50,000 lbs. of Cocculus indicus were imported from India to England, 

 a quantity sufficient to drug 120,000 tuns of beer. 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 neutral principle contained in 

 the seed, called Picrotoxin . The pericarp also contains t^vo al k aloids in minute 

 quantity, which have been named Menispermia and Paranieni-spermia, of 

 which but Uttle is known. 



Cissa in pelos.— The root of C. Pareira is officinal, and is commonly known 

 under the name of Pareira brava. It possesses tonic and diuretic properties. 

 It would appear probable, however, that Cissampelos glaberrima, and perhaps 

 other aUied species, and even other plants of the same order, may also furnish 

 a portion of the Pareira brava of commerce. Recent investigations clearly 

 indicate that the Pareira brava of the ilateria Medica is not derived from Cis- 

 sampefox Pareira at all, but from some other ilenispermaceous plant of Brazil. 

 The stem possesses similar but less powerful properties ; it is, however, fre- 

 quently mixed with the root. Pareira brava contains an alkaloid which 

 has been named CissainpeUa or Pelasia, but which Dr. Fluckiger believes is 

 identical with beberia, the active principle of Bebeeni bark. (See Xectandra.) 

 Cosciniumfenestratum.— The wood and bark possess tonic and stomachic 

 properties. The wood has been imported into this country from Ceylon, 

 and sold as true Calumba-root ; it contains much berberia. 



Jateorhiza. — Jaleorhiza Columba and 7. Miersii are now recognised in the 

 British Pharmacopoeia as yielding the Calumba root of the Materia Medica, 

 so well kno-wTi as a valuable stomachic and tonic. Calumba root would 

 appear also to possess to a certain extent narcotic properties. Irs tonic and 

 stomachic properties are especially due to a peculiar neutral principle, called 

 calumbin. It also contains berberia, 



Tinospora cordifoUa or Cocculus cordifolia. — The root and stems, known 

 under the name of Gulancha in India", possess well-marked tonic, anti- 

 periodic, and diuretic properties. 



