.94 



DE CANDOLLE'S SYSTEM. 



USES. Roots of many bitter and tonic, as Cocculus palma- 

 tus, which yields the Calumba root ; of others also diuretic, 

 as Cissampelos Pareira, and Cocculus Balds, the latter a 

 remedy used by the negroes of Senegal against intermittents. 

 In the seeds a poison is formed, which in Anamirta Cocculus, 

 the Cocculus Indicus of the shops, becomes extremely dan- 

 gerous. 



TYPICAL GENERA. Menispermum, Cocculus. 



Cissampelos Pareira. 1. A male flower. 2. A female flower. 3. The vertical 

 section of an ovary, which gradually curves the apex downwards, till, when it becomes 

 the drape 4, it acquires a horseshoe form. 5. A vertical section of a drupe, show- 

 ing the embryo and albumen ; a. is the true apex of the fruit, brought to the base 

 as just described. 



4. Berberacea. Shrubs or herbaceous perennial plants. 

 Leaves alternate, compound, usually without stipules. Se- 

 pals 3-4-6, in a double row. Petals sometimes with an 

 appendage at the base. Stamens equal in number to the 

 petals, and opposite to them ; anthers opening elastically with 

 a valve from the bottom to the top. Ovary solitary, 1- 

 celled. Seeds attached to the bottom of the cell, 1, 2, or 

 3 ; albumen between fleshy and corneous. 



USES. Bark astringent, and in Berberis yielding a yellow 

 die. Fruit of Berberis acid ; tubers of Bongardia eatable. 



TYPICAL GENERA. Berberis, Epimedium. 



5. Nympli<eacea. Herbs with peltate or cordate fleshy 

 leaves, growing in quiet water. Sepals and petals imbricated, 



