CISSAMPELOS. Lin. 



(^Menispermacece.) 



XXII. — 10. DIOECIA MONADELPHIA. LIN, SYST. 



3. Cissampelos capensis, Lin. Stem shrubby, twining. 

 Leaves ovate, petiolate, blunt, entire, glabrous ; leaf- 

 stalks, short, downy. Flower bunches branchy, hardly 

 longer than the leaf-stalks. Floioers dioecious, axillary, 

 minute, whitish, tomentose. 



This shrub is found in almost every mountainous part of 

 the Colony. The roots are used as an emetic and purga- 

 tive by the Boers, and go by the name of Davidjes, Its 

 foliage is poisonous to cattle. 



POLYGALA. TouRN. 



i^PolygalecB.y 

 XVII. — 5. DIADELPHIA OCTO-DECANDRIA. LIN. SYST. 



4. Poly gala Serpentaria. EcM. and Z. Root thick, 

 woody. Stem almost herbaceous, branchy, procum- 

 bent. Leaves alternate, obovate, smooth, entire, glau- 

 cous beneath, mucronate. Flowers on short pedicels^ 

 axillary, subcristate. 



A shrub found in Kaffraria. Though small, yet the root 

 is comparatively thick and long, and is considered by the 

 natives as a sure antidote against the bites of venomous 

 snakes, whence its colonial name of Kaffer Slangenwortel. 

 It belongs to the same section of the genus as the Polygala 

 ISenega, and may probably possess similar properties. 



MUNDTIA. KuNTH. 



( Polygalecs.) 

 XVII. — 5. DIADELFHIA OCTANDRIA. LIN. SYST. 



5. Mundtia spinosa. D. C. Shrubby, erect, smooth, 

 divaricating. Branches spiny at their apices. Leaves 

 on short stalks, oblong, glabrous, veiny, blunt, 

 mucronate. Floioers crested, sessile, axillary. Fruit 

 a red, juicy berry. 



A decoction of the tops of the branches of this shrub, 

 which is very common in the Downs, is used in atrophy, 

 phthisis, &c., apparently with some effect, while the fruit, 

 which is somewhat astringent in taste, is eaten by children 

 and Hottentots, who call them Skildpatbesjes. 



