488 SYSTEMATIC BOTANT. 



natiTe effects. The unripe fruit is said to resemble that of Indian Bael in its 

 properties ; while the ripe fruit is described as antiscorbutic. The fruit is 

 commonly known under the name of the Elephant or Wood-apple. 



Murraya (Bergera) Konigii. — The bark, root, and leaves are employed by 

 the native practitioners in India for their tonic and stomachic properties. 



Natural Order 51. Vitace^ or Ampelidace^e.— The Vine 

 Order. — Character. — Usually climbing shrubs {fig. 202), 

 with a watery juice, the joints swollen and separable from each 

 other. Leaves simple {fig. 202) or compound, opposite below, 

 alternate above, stipulate or exstipulate. Flowers regular, small, 

 green, stalked {fig. 400) ; 'peduncles sometimes cirrhose. Calyx 

 minute, with the limb generally wanting. Petals 4 or 5, some- 

 times united at the base ; (estivation induplieate ; inserted on a 

 disk which surrounds the ovary, caducous. Stamens correspond- 

 ing in number to the petals and opposite to them, also inserted 

 on the disk {fig. 504); filaments distinct, or somewhat coherent 

 at the base; a^ithers \evsa,tile, bursting longitudinally {fig. 504). 

 Ovary superior, 2 — 6-celled, usually 2 ; style very short, simple ; 

 stigona simple {fig. 504). Fruit succulent {fig. 703), commonly 

 termed a nuculanium, usually 2-celled. Seeds erect, few, usually 

 2 in each cell; testa howj; alhitmenlvAxA.; embryo evect; radicle 

 inferior. 



Diagnosis. — Shrubby plants, with simple or compound leaves, 

 which are opposite below, and alternate above. Flowers small, 

 green, regular. Petals and stamens corresponding in number, 

 4 or 5, the latter opposite to the petals, both inserted on a 

 hypogynous disk; sestivation of petals indiiplicate ; anthers 

 versatile, opening longitudinally. Ovary superior, with a very 

 short simple style and stigma ; placentas axile. Fruit a nucula- 

 nium. Seeds few ; testa bony ; embryo erect in horny albumen. 



Distrihntion, ^x. — The plants of this order are found in 

 warm and tropical regions of the globe. None are natives of 

 Europe. The common Grape Vine which is now completely 

 naturalised in the south of Europe, and is cultivated nearly all 

 over the globe where the temperature does not rise too high or 

 fall too low, is supposed to be a native of the shores of the 

 Caspian. Examples of the Genera: — Cissus, Vitis, Ampelopsis. 

 There are about 260 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The leaves, stems, and unripe fruits of 

 this order abound more or less in an acid juice, the acidity being 

 chiefly due to the presence of tartaric acid and bitartrate of 

 potash. As the fruit ripens, it generally loses its acidity, and 

 becomes sweet, owing to the formation of Glucose or Grape 

 Sugar. The more important plants are as follows : — 



Cissus. — The leaves and fi'uits of some species, as C. setosa, C. cordata, &c,, 

 are acrid. A blue dye is obtained in Brazil from the leaves and fruit of 

 C. tindoria. 



Vitis vinifera. — This very valuable plant, which is commonly known as the 

 Grape Yine, has followed the steps of man into almost every region of the 



