AMPELIDE.E, OR GRAPE TRIBE. 403 



rate at the base ; and these are afterwards detached and carried 

 upwards by the extension of the stamens. The stamens are five 

 in number, opposite to the petals ; there is, therefore, a whorl 

 deficient (. 465) ; and the abortive rudiments of this we find 

 in five little glands projecting from the disk, which alternate 

 with the fully-developed stamens. Within the circle of stamens 

 is found a two-celled ovarium, surmounted by a single stigma, 

 which is not supported upon a style, but seated at once upon 

 the ovarium ; hence it is said to be sessile. In each cell are two 

 erect (. 500) or ascending ovules. The fruit is, as is well known, 

 a succulent berry, with from one to four hard seeds contained in 

 its pulp ; the original division into two cells is nearly oblite- 

 rated, when the fruit is ripe. An additional character which 

 may be remarked in the common Vine and its allies; and 

 which is interesting as showing the affinity between this order 

 and the succeeding one, is the tendency to a swelling or tumi- 

 dity, in the branches, near the points from which the leaves 

 proceed ; and in the Vine, the young branches have the divi- 

 sions into nodes marked nearly as strongly as they are in the 

 Grasses (. 148). 



568. The plants of this group are naturally inhabitants of 

 the milder and hotter parts of both hemispheres, especially of 

 the East Indies. There is a very close resemblance in essential 

 characters amongst them all ; though in subordinate peculiari- 

 ties the tendency to variation is considerable. The mode of 

 growth, and the form of the leaves, are nearly the same through- 

 out ; and the chief obvious difference is in the size of their 

 flowers, which are usually greenish in colour, and in the taste 

 of their fruit. In the Fox-grape of America, for instance, the 

 berries have a vile indescribable taste, which has been compared 

 to the odour of the fox ; in the River-grape, they are small, 

 black, and acid, but the flowers have a delicious odour, which 

 makes amends for their minuteness. The genera Cissus, and 

 Ampelopsisy many species of which are well known as creepers 

 (the most common of which is the Virginian Creeper), differ 

 from the Vines in having the leaves divided into five distinct 

 segments; and they are remarkable for the rich crimson hue 



