188 



BOTANY. 



The curious woody twiner, moon-seed (Menispermum) (Fig. 

 101, /), is the sole example in the northern states of the family 

 Menispermece to which it belongs. The flowers are dioecious, 

 and the pistillate flowers are succeeded by black fruits looking 

 like grapes. The flattened, bony seed is curiously sculptured, 

 and has the embryo curled up within it. 



A 



em.> 



FIG. 101. Types of Aphanocyclse (Polycarpse) . A-H, Berberidacese. A, 

 flower of barberry (Berberis), x 2. B, the same in section. 6', a stamen, 

 showing the method of opening, x 3. /), flower of may-apple (Podophyllum) , 

 x %. E, section of the ovary of D, x 1. f\ diagram of the flower. G, ripe 

 fruit of twin-leaf (Jefl'ersonia) , opening by a lid, x l / 2 . H, section of seed, 

 showing the embryo (em.), x 2. /, young leaf and cluster of male flowers of 

 moon-seed, Menispermum (Menispermete) , x 1. J, a single male flower, 

 x 2. K, section of a female flower, x 2. L, ripe seed, x l. M, section of M, 

 showing the curved embryo. 



The last two families of the order, the laurel family (Lauri- 

 nece) and the nutmeg family (Myristicinece) are mostly tropical 

 plants, characterized by the fragrance of the bark, leaves, and 

 fruit. The former is represented by the sassafras and spice- 

 bush, common throughout the eastern United States. The 

 latter has no members within our borders, but is familiar to 

 all through the common nutmeg, which is the seed of Myristica 



