BERBERIDACE^: CABOMBACE.E NYMPH^EACE^E. 357 



Coceulus. It is extremely bitter, and contains a crystalline poisonous 

 narcotic principle, Picrotoxin, which is its active ingredient. It has 

 been used externally in some cutaneous affections. At one time it 

 was employed, most prejudicially, to give bitterness to porter. Cis- 

 sampelos Pareira, Wild-vine or Velvet-leaf, furnishes Pareira-brava- 

 root, which is employed as a tonic and diuretic, and has been recom- 

 mended in chronic inflammation of the bladder. 



748. Order 6. Berberidacere, the Berberry Family. (Polypet. 

 Hypog.) Sepals 3-4-6, deciduous, in a double row. Petals hypogyn- 

 ous, equal in number to the sepals, and opposite to them, or twice as 

 many, often having an appendage at the base on the inside. Stamens 

 equal in number to the petals, and opposite to them; anthers adnate, 

 bilocular (dithecal), each of the loculi opening by a valve from the 

 bottom to the top. Carpel solitary, unilocular, containing 2-12 

 anatropal ovules; style sometimes lateral; stigma orbicular. Fruit 

 baccate or capsular, in dehiscent. Albumen fleshy or horny; embryo 

 straight, sometimes large (fig. 494). Shrubs or herbaceous perennial 

 plants, with alternate, compound, exstipulate leaves. The true leaves 

 are often changed into spines (fig. 231 /). Found chiefly in the moun- 

 tainous parts of the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. 

 The plants of the order have bitter and acid properties. The bark 

 and stem of Berberis vulgaris, common Berberry, are astringent, and 

 yield a yellow dye; the fruit contains oxalic acid, and is used as a 

 preserve. Lindley enumerates 12 genera, including 100 species. 

 Examples Berberis, Epimedium, Leontice. 



749. Order 7. Cabombacere, the Watershield Family. (Polypet. 

 Hypog.) Sepals 3-4. Petals 3-4, alternate with the sepals. Stamens 

 hypogynous, arising from an inconspicuous torus, two or three times 

 the number of the petals; anthers linear, introrse, continuous with the 

 filament. Carpels 2 or more; stigmas simple; ovules orthotropal. 

 Fruit indehiscent, tipped with the indurated styles, containing one 

 or two pendulous seeds. Embryo minute, enclosed in a vitellus (the 

 sac of the amnios), and placed at the base of a fleshy perisperm. 

 American aquatic plants, with floating peltate leaves. Lindley men- 

 tions 2 genera, including 3 species. Examples Hydropeltis, Cabomba. 



750. Order 8. .\ymphreaceu-, the Water-lily Family (fig. 562). 

 (Polypet. Hypog.) Sepals usually 4, sometimes confounded with the 

 petals. Petals numerous, often passing gradually into stamens (fig. 

 310, 2). Stamens indefinite, inserted above the petals into the torus 

 (fig. 562 c); filaments petaloid; anthers adnate, introrse, opening by 

 two longitudinal clefts. Torus large, fleshy, surrounding the ovary 

 more or less (fig. 562 t). Ovary multilocular, many-seeded, with 

 radiating stigmas (fig. 562 s); numerous anatropal ovules. Fruit 

 many-celled, indehiscent. Seeds very numerous, attached to spongy 

 dissepiments; albumen farinaceous; embryo small, enclosed in a fleshy 



