28 Mentspermacec-—Menispermunt. 
dicecious small inconspienous flowers. The most remarkable 
characteristic of most members of this group is the curved 
carpels in which the base and proper apex are brought almost 
close together. There are something like 300 species, chiefly 
found within the tropics. 
1. MENISPERMUM. 
Climbing deciduous shrubs with large peltate or cordate 
palmately lobed leaves and paniculate flowers. Sepals 4 to 8, 
in two series. Petals 6 to 8, shorter than the sepals. Male 
flowers with from 12 to 24 stamens, whose anthers are 4-celled. 
Female flowers with 6 sterile stamens and 2 to 4 woody 1- 
seeded carpels in the form of a horse’s shoe. Seed amphitropal, 
with fleshy albumen and a small embryo. Two species are de- 
scribed: one from eastern temperate Asia, and the following 
from North America. The name is from pyvy, the moon, and 
omrépua, a seed, from the crescent-shaped carpels. 
1, M. Canadénse. Moonseed.—Leaves large, reniform, pel- 
tate. Flowers small and inconspicuous. This shrub is valu- 
able only for its large handsome foliage, for covering bowers, 
ete. AM. Carolinicnwm is a variety with lobed leaves. 
Orpen VI.—BERBERIDEA. 
Herbs, or erect or chmbing shrubs. Leaves alternate, or 
fascicled from the non-development of the branches, simple or 
compound, often spinose or reduced to spines. Flowers terminal 
or axillary, usually racemose, often yellow. Sepals and petals 
similar, in 2 or more scries. Stamens 4 to 8, opposite the 
petals; anthers opening by valves or slits. Carpel solitary or 
3 to 9, 1-celled; stigma usually peltate ; ovules 2 or more, basal 
or on the ventral suture, anatropous, raphe ventral. Fruit a 
berry or capsule; seeds albuminous. An order of about 100 
species, inhabiting the temperate regions of both hemispheres 
and the mountains of the tropics. Absent from South Africa 
and Australasia. Astringent properties. This order furnishes 
many beautiful hardy shrubs, notably Bérberis Darwinii and 
Japonica. 
1. BERBERIS. 
Erect or trailing spiny shrubs with yellow wood. Leaves 
simple or compound, often with spinose teeth, sometimes 
