THALAMIFLOR^I. 201 



spreading cotyledons, on the outside of abundant fleshy perisperm. This is 

 a small Order of plants belonging chiefly to South America, but occurring 

 also in Madagascar, Java, Australia, &c. ; sometimes combined with the 

 next family, and usually referred to the neighbourhood of Lauraceae, from 

 which they are distinguished by their apocarpous ovaries, but, like the 

 Atherospermaceae, standing properly in their vicinity of the Anonaceae, 

 along with Myristicaceae ; for some genera are dichlamydeous. They are 

 also related to' Calycanths and Roses, but they differ from these Orders in 

 their opposite exstipulate leaves and albuminous seeds. Baillon unites 

 them with Galycanths and Atherosperms, and places them near Magno- 

 liaceae, to which their aromatic properties ally them. They are not of im- 

 portance economically ; the fruit of Boldoa is eaten in Chili. Genera : 

 Monimia, Thouars j Citrosma, li. & P. ; Boldoa^ Juss., &c. 



MENISPEBMACEJE. THE MOON-SEED ORDER. 



Coli. Ranales, Benth. et Hook. 



Diagnosis. Woody climbers, with palmate or peltate alternate leaves, 

 without stipules ; flowers dioecious, rarely perfect or polygamous ; sepals 

 and petals similar, in three or more circles, imbricated or valvate in the 

 bud ; stamens usually 6, superposed to the sepals and petals ; pistils 

 3-6-gynous, on a small thalamus ; fruit a ] -seeded drupe, with a large ^ or 

 long curved embryo in scanty perisperm. Illustrative Genera: Jateorrhiza, 

 Miers ; Menispermum, Tournef. ; Cissampelos, L. ; Cocculus, DO. 



Affinities, &c. This curious Order is related to the Anonaceae and the 

 Berberidaceae through Bocagea, especially when the flowers are perfect. 

 Its nearest neighbours are Lardizabalaceae and Schizandracese, with which 

 the plants agree much in habit. All these approach the Magnoliaceae ; 

 but the habit, the generally unisexual flowers, and the absence of stipules 

 separate them from that family. This Order is very heteromorphous in 

 almost all parts of its structure. The peculiar organization of the wood 

 and foliage deserves attention. 



Number and Distribution. Genera about 30 ; species (under a hundred) 

 are natives of the tropics of Asia and America, forming woody climbers 

 of great size in the forests. A few are found in more temperate regions, 

 but none in Europe. 



Qualities and Uses. Narcotic and bitter properties of considerable 

 power occur in this Order. fi Cocculus Indicus," containing the poisonous 

 principle picrotoxine in the seeds, consists of the berries of Anamirta 

 cocculus ; Jateorrhiza palmata or Calumba furnishes " Calumba-root ; " 

 different species of Cissampelos, as well as Chondodendron tomentosum, the 

 roots of which furnish Pareira brava, are used as tonics and diuretics. In 

 India the seeds and roots of " Gulancha," Tinospora cordifolia, are used 

 for similar purposes. Species of Cocculus and Cissampelos are grown in 

 stoves in this country; some of the North-American Menisperma grow as 

 hardy climbers here. 



LARDIZABALACEJ5 constitute a small group, referred by Bentham 

 and Hooker, as also by Baillon, to Berberids, and by De Caudolle to 



