44 Introduction to Botany. 



a large, round, peltate, 7-9-lobed leaf. Flowering stems usually bearing 2 large 

 lobed leaves, with petioles fixed near one side. Nodding white flowers, sometimes 

 nearly 2 inches broad, springing from the fork of the leaves. Fruit edible, but 

 foliage and roots poisonous. In rich woods. 



MENISPERMACEJE. MOONSEED FAMILY. 



Herbaceous or woody climbing plants, with alternate leaves, and 

 small dioecious flowers, usually in panicles. Carpels usually 3-6, 

 sometimes more, superior, i-ovuled. Sepals 4-12; petals 6 in 2 rows, 

 sometimes fewer or wanting. Stamens nearly of the same number as 

 the petals. Fruit a i -seeded drupe. 



I. CALYCOCARPUM. Cupseed. 



(Gr., kalyx, cup; karpos, fruit.) 



A high climber, with long-petioled, palmately lobed leaves. Flowers 

 greenish in narrow, drooping panicles. Sepals 6, petallike ; petals none. 

 Stamens about 12 ; pistils 3, with laciniate stigmas. Droop oval, and 

 flattened or hollowed on one side. 



i. Calycocarpum Lyoni, Nutt. (Latin genitive of proper name.) CUPSEED. 

 Leaves 5 to 8 inches long, palmately 5-y-lobed. Dioecious flowers in long, loose 

 panicles. Flowers about $ inch broad. Drupe about i inch long and black when 

 ripe. In rich woods. 



II. MENISPERMUM. Moonseed. 

 (Gr., mene, moon; spernta, seed.) 



A tall climber. Leaves in our species on slender petioles, broadly 

 cordate-ovate, entire, or 3-7-angled or lobed. Sepals 4-8 in 2 rows, 

 exceeding the 6-8 petals. Flowers dioecious. Stamens 12-24 i n the 

 staminate flowers ; pistils 2-4 in the pistillate flowers, on a short, 

 common receptacle. Ovary incurved after flowering. Fruit globular. 



i. Menispermum Canadense, L. MOONSEED. Flowers small and white. 

 Leaves 4 to 8 inches wide, peltate near the base. Drupe \ to \ inch in diameter ; 

 the clusters of fruit resembling small grapes. In woods. 



LAURACEJE. LAUREL FAMILY. 



Aromatic trees or shrubs, with mostly alternate, simple leaves, fre- 

 quently marked with pellucid dots. Petals none ; sepals 4-6, colored. 

 Stamens inserted on the calyx in several whorls ; anthers opening by 

 2 or 4 uplifted valves. Ovary superior, i -celled and i-ovuled. Fruit, 

 a i -seeded drupe or berry. 



