282 XXXIX. AMPELIDE^. [Vitis. 



minutely puberulent. Leaves pedately 5 (often 7 in the Queensland examples), 

 foliolate, the petioles and secondary ones often long and slender. Leaflets 5 to 

 7, the lateral ones on rather short, the terminal ones on rather long petiolules ; 

 lanceolate to obovate-oblong, acutely serrate. Tendrils bifid. Panicles on 

 peduncles as long as the petioles, one branch only bearing flowers and fruit, the 

 other a closely-curled tendril. Flowers minute ; pedicellate. Bracts small. 

 Calyx patelliform, membranous. Corolla tumid at the base. Petals oblong- 

 ovate, 3-angular, pointless, not readily separating at the apex. Berry oval, about 

 4 lines long. Seeds 2 to 4-ovate, trigonal, rugose, the back polyhedric-angular, 

 foveolate. 



Hab.: Endeavour Eiver, Planchon, I.e.; ranges about the Barron Eiver, E. Cowley and L. 

 Nugent. 



J. 



12. V. clematidea (Clematis-like), F. v. M. Fragm. ii. 74 ; Benth. Fl. 

 Austr. i. 449. " Mor-bir," Mt. Cook, Roth. Minutely tomentose, pubescent or 

 glabrous, underground stem forming tubers about the size of walnuts. Branches 

 angular-striate. Leaflets usually 5, pedate, petiolate, ovate, acuminate, coarsely 

 toothed or, lobed, usually 1 to 2in. long, narrowed at the base, herbaceous, rather 

 thick and pubescent or thin and glabrous. Cymes divaricate, rather dense, on 

 long peduncles, minutely hoary- tomentose. Pedicels short. Flowers globular, about 

 1 line diameter. Petals apparently separating. Disk very prominent, entire. 

 Style filiform. Berries depressed-globular, small. 



Hab,: Brisbane River, Fraser ; Pine Eiver, J. W. Statter ; Mount Perry, J. Keys ; ranges 

 about Cairns, L. J. Nugent. 



Natives eat the root after being beaten on stone and roasted. Both. 



13. V. acetosa (sharp flavour of fruit), F. v. M. Herb.; Benth. Fl. Aiistr. i. 

 449. Climbing over shrubs, never very high. Glabrous or the young shoots 

 and inflorescence very slightly hoary-tomentose. Leaflets 6 to 7, pedate, 

 petiolulate or the central one nearly sessile, oblong or obovate-cuneate, obtuse or 

 rarely shortly acuminate, 2 to Sin. long or rarely longer, entire, or bordered by 

 small teeth or minute distant serratures, narrowed at the base, herbaceous, but 

 rather firm, pale underneath. Cymes pedunculate, dense, divaricate or almost 

 thyrsoid, the flowers often shortly racemose along the branches, on short pedicels. 

 Flowers purple-red, ovoid-globular, about 1 line long, glabrous. Petals separating. 

 Disk indistinct. Style very shortly conical or scarcely any, with a truncate 

 stigma. Berries ovoid-globose, about 5 lines long. Seeds transversely sulcata. 

 — Cissus acetosa, F. v. M. Trans. Vict. Inst. iii. 24 ; Am.pelocissus acetosa, Planch, 

 in A. and C. De CandoUes Mon. Phanero. v. 



Hab.: Cape York and other localities on the north-east coast ; Palmer Eiver, Dr. W. E. Roth 

 (specimens hoary, particularly on under side of leaf). 



The specimens first described were, according to F. v. Mueller's notes, from tall herbaceous not 

 climbing stems — the one I have, named V. Gardineri. 



Mrs. Frank L. Jardine says that the aborigines use this plant as a remedy in oases of bites 

 from the death adder. 



14. V. hypoglauca (under side of leaf pale), F. v. M. PI. Vict. i. 94; 

 Fl. Austr. i. 450. "Billangai," Barron Eiver, E. Cowley. A tall climber. 

 Young shoots rusty-tomentose or villous, adult specimens usually quite glabrous. 

 Leaflets 5, digitate, obovate, oval or oblong-elliptical, shortly and often acutely 

 acuminate, 2 to Sin. long, the lateral ones smaller than the central ones, entire 

 or toothed towards the top, obtuse at the base, on rather long petiolules, 

 coriaceous, penniveined and finely reticulate, pale or glaucous underneath. 

 Cymes rather dense, shortly pedunculate. Flowers yellowish, glabrous, ovoid. 



