MEXISPERMACEjE. 



Plate 28. 



COCCULUS (Pluk.), DC. 



Calyx 1 — 3-bracteolatus, 6-sepalus. Petala 6 (raro nulla). 

 Stamina 6, discreta. Drupse campylotropas ; putamine osseo, 

 reniformi, annulari-arcuato, vel hippocrepico. 



Cocculus, Pluk. Slant, p. 52. DC. Syst. 1. p. 515 (excl. spec. & syn. 



Bauh.) Colebr. in Linn. Trans. 13. p. 57 (excl. C. crispo, etc.). 



Wight A. Am. Fl. Pen. Ind. Or. p. 11 (excl. spec.) Wight, 111. 



Ind. Bot. 1. t. 7. 

 Abuta, Barr. Aubl. Guian. p. 618. t. 250? (ex St. Ilil. Fl. Bras l.p. 47.) 

 Chondodendron, Ruiz & Pav. Prodr. Fl. Per. & Chil. p. 132 (1794). 

 Baumgartia, Mrench, Meth. p. 650 (1794. pi. ster.) 

 Akdrophvlax, Wendl. Hort. Herr. 3. t 10. 

 Wendlandia, Willd. Spec. 2. p. 275 (1799. pi. fert.) Pursh, Fl. 1. p. 252. 



Flowers dioecious or dioecio-polygamous. Ster. Fl. Se- 

 pals 6, imbricated in aestivation in two series of three each, 

 ovate or roundish, petaloid, at least the inner series, 1-3- 

 hractcolate externally, deciduous. Petals 6, smaller than 

 the calyx, placed three of them opposite the outer and three 

 opposite the inner sepals, thickish, sessile, ovate or obovate, 

 more or less cucullate or incurved around the filaments, de- 

 ciduous. Stamens 6, opposite the petals ; the filaments 

 and 4-celled anthers as in Menispermum (Plate 29). Pis- 

 tils none. Fert. Fl. Calyx, corolla, tfcc, nearly as in 

 the sterile plant. Ster. stamens hypogynous, with more or 

 less dilated filaments, bearing abortive anthers. Pistils 3 

 to 6, sessile in a whorl, not raised on a gynophore : ovary 

 semiovate, one-celled, subulate with a short recurved style 

 which is narrowly stigmatose down the inner edge. Ovule 

 amphitropous, borne on the middle of the ventral suture ■ 

 the micropyle superior. 



Drupes (one or usually 2 to 5 ripening) sessile, baccate: 

 the putamen, seed, and embryo, in our species (and the 

 more nearly allied exotic ones) just as in Menispermum. 



