8 Moonseed (Menispermacece). [No. 2 



widely spreading, not cohering, pointed, oblong to 

 egg-shape. Stamens, about twenty-four, the outer 

 ones widening, like imperfect petals, and tipped with 

 imperfect anthers. Flower-stems and leaf-stems 

 about equal in length. May. 



Leaves, compound, opposite, often in pairs (giving the 

 effect of a whorl of four leaves — whence the name), 

 on slender stems. 



Leaflets, three, one to two inches in length, egg-shape to 

 slightly heart-shape, nearly smooth. Edge, entire or 

 sparingly toothed or lobed. Apex, pointed. 



Fruit, with long plume-like tails. 



Found, in woods and rocky places from Virginia north- 

 ward. Rare. 



A handsome, woody-stemmed vine climbing by means 

 of its twisting leaf-stems to a height of fifteen feet. 



N0.2.— Family MENISPERMACE^E. (Moonseed Fam.) 

 Genus Menispermum, L. 



From two Greek words meaning " moon " and " seed," because of the crescent form of 



the seed. 



Fig. 4. — Moonseed. M. Canadinse, L. 



Flowers, small, white, in loose clusters from the sides of 

 the branches. Cluster-stem at the base of the leaf- 

 stem, not, as in the grape-vine, opposite to it. Petals, 

 small, six to eight, not united. Sepals, four to 

 eight. Petals and sepals similar and in three or more 



