TAXONOMY 



caducous, typically distinct, in Vitis united by their tips into calyp- 

 troform corolla, so in June, as Grape Vine flowers expand, corolla 

 splits at base into five lobes that separate below, being attached at 

 tips, while whole becomes tumbled off by lengthening stamens. 

 Pistil bicarpellate. Ovary two-celled, superior at or most sub- 

 inferior. Ovules two to one, erect. Style short often more or less 

 thickened with terminal, capitate, slightly two-lobed stigmas. 

 Stamens equal to petals or sepals and opposite petals. Receptacle 

 internal to stamens, often expanded into nectariferous girdle or, in 

 Vitis, into receptacular knobs alternating with stamens. Fruit 

 a berry rarely six- to three-celled, typically two-celled and with 

 two to one seeds in each cavity. Seeds like ovules, erect, with bony 

 testa. Embryo small, imbedded at base of cartilaginous albumen. 



Official drug 



Vinum Xericum 



N.F. 



Part used 



Fermented juice 

 of ripe fruit 



Botanical origin 



Vitis species 

 (cultivated) 



Habitat 



Cultivated 



XVIII. Order Malvales. Sterculiacea or Cola Family. Rarely 

 herbs, usually shrubs or tall, often heavy trees with soft wood and 

 broad annual rings. The cambium, in developing bast, produces 

 one, two, three, four, or five alternating layers of hard and soft 

 bast which in some species of this as well as the Tiliacece family 

 form long finger-like processes pushing out into the cortex. Leaves 

 alternate, sometimes simple and pinnately veined or passing to 

 palmately veined or palmately compound. Flowers hermaphrodite; 

 sepals five, sometimes surrounded by bracteoles forming an epicalyx; 

 petals usually five; stamens typically five hypogynous, opposite 

 petals, distinct or slightly fused in monadelphous fashion (Melochia, 

 Waltheria) or, stamens subdivided above into few or numerous stam- 

 inal leaflets, anthers two-celled; pistil many to ten- to five- or four- 

 carpelled; carpels apocarpous or more usually partially or completely 

 united. Fruit either follicles, or fused to form a capsule of ten or 

 more, frequently five dehiscent carpels or, carpels splitting asunder 

 into cocci or, becoming a woody capsular nut (Theobroma) or, 

 rarely the fruit may become succulent. Seeds globose or subglobose 

 and often provided with wings, arils or similar appendages; embryo 

 straight, large and .surrounded by scanty albumen. 



