560 



BOTANY. 



Order Menispermacese. Woody twining plants, with alternate 

 leaves ; flowers diclinous ; petals usually six, with a stamen before 

 (opposite to) each one; carpels usually three, distinct and one-seeded. 

 Species eighty to one hundred, principally tropical. They generally 

 contain a bitter principle, which in some is tonic, in others narcotic, or 

 even poisonous. 



Menispermum Canadense, the Moonseed of the Eastern United 

 States, is a beautiful climber deserving cultivation in ornamental gar- 

 dens. Its only congener is a native of Eastern Asia. (Figs. 554-8.) 



Fiss. 559-64. ILLUSTRATIONS or ASIMINA T 



Fie. 561. 



Fio. 564. 



Fig. 559 Section of flower. Magnified. 



Fig. 560. Flower diagram. Ma-rnitted. Fig. 561. Young carpel. Magnified, 



Fig. 562. Section of young carpel. Magnified. 



Fig. 563. Seed. Natural size. 



Fig. 564. Section of seed. 



Two other genera, Calycocarpum and Cocculus, are represented in 

 the United States. 



Many of the Old World species are more or less in repute as furnish- 

 in"; medicines, but none are of sufficient importance to be particularly 

 noticed. 



Order Anonaceee. Trees and shrubs with alternate leaves ; flowers 

 trimerous ; stamens indefinite, on a thickened receptacle ; carpels gen- 

 erally indefinite. Species 400, mostly tropical. The bark generally 

 contains an aromatic and stimulating, sometimes acrid principle. 



