102 AMPELIDEi?!. 



0. puiesemt, lam. Leaves pubescent or glatrate beneath. — Lam. III. t. 845. /.-l.-^f 

 this form I have seen the ripe capsule only : the Trinidad specimens are intermediate be- 

 tween both firms.— Hab. Trinidad !, Cr.; [Cuba !, Mexico 1 to Brazil !]. 



XXXI. AMPELIDEJi. 



Stamem 4-5, opposite to the valvate petals, inserted usually on the outside of an hypo- 

 gynous disc. Pistil syncarpous : stigma simple : ovules 2 (-1) in each cell. Embryo mi- 

 Jlute, in the top of the hard, fleshy albumen : radicle inferior.— Woody plants, mostly climb- 

 ing by tendrils, %Dhich, like the peduncles, are opposite to the stipulate leaves. ^ 



The sap contains several organic acjds, of which some use is made in colonial medicine. 

 The copious, aqneons sap of Cissus sicyoides and Vitis caribeea, which is analogons to the 

 spring-sap of the grape-vine, aifords a pleasant drink to travellers. 

 • 



1. CISSTJS, L. 



(Spondylantfaa, Pr^) 



Calyx short, siibentire. Petals 4 (-5), distinct. Disc 4(-5)-lobed. Ovary 2-celled: 

 cells 2-ovulate. Berry ususdly l(-2)-seeded by abortion. — Flowers small, umbellate: the 

 umbels compound or triehotomous. 



1 . C. sicyoides, L. Stem climbing by tendrils, obtusangled-tereite ; leaves simple, 

 cordate-oblong, cordate, or ovate, glabrous (or puberulous) : serratures setaceous, distant, ap- 

 pressed ; rays of the general umbd simply bi-trichotomous ; petals 4, greenish-yellow ; style 

 long; berry subglobose, black, one-seeded (4'" diam.). — SI. t. 144. y. 1; P^ Br. t. is. f. 

 1. 2; Jacq. Jmer. Pict. t. 20; Desc. PI. 5. t. 309, 811; 7. t. 481.— C. ovata. Lam. 

 C. smilacina, Ktk. C. venatorum, Desc. C. latifolia, Sesc. Spondylantha aphylla, Prl. 

 (PI. Hank. 2. t. 53): a common monstrosity, with the inflorescence transformed into a 

 system of equisetiform branches, as occurs likewise in C. acida.—A high climber. — Hab. Ja- 

 maica!, Dist., Al„ Wils., March; Dominica!, hnr.; S.Vincent!, Guild.; [Cuba, Mexico! 

 to New Granada !, Guiana !]. 



2. C. trifoliata, L., Sw. {non Jacq.). Stem climbing by tendrils, angular ; leaves tri- 

 foliolate : lec^ets ovate, glabrons, serrate, chiefly above the middle, or subeutire, the lateral 



ones oblique : serratures accumbent, distant, setaceous ; rays of the general umbel puberu- 

 lous, usually bifid ; petals 4, scarlet (together with the pedicels) ; style long ; berry purple, 

 ovoid-globose (3"'-2"' diam.), one-seeded.— P/am. ed. Burm. t. 259./. 4; SI. t. 144./. 2; 

 Fuss. Ft. 1. 1. 16 ; Desc. PI. 3. t. l&l— C. microearpa, V. C. obovata, F.: the form with 

 subentire leaflets. C. caustica, Ikiss. C. intermedia, Rich.: a form with the leaflets cu- 

 neate at the base.^A high climber. — HaB. Jamaica !, Dist., Al., March ; Caribbea,n Islands; 

 [New Granada!]. 



8. C. acida, L. Stem cUmbiug by tendrils : brauchlets (together with the leaves) 

 somewhat succulent, subterete-striated ; leaves trifoliolate : leafiets cuneate-obovate, rounded 

 at the top, glabrons, deeply toothed above the middle : teeth contiguous, spreading, broad, 

 pointed ; rays of the general umbel simple ; petals 4, greenish-yellow ; style long i berry 

 black, globose (2'" diam.), one-seeded.— Pfe»f. ed. Burm. t. 259./. 5; SI. f. 142./ 6; 

 Jacq. Sehmbr. 1. t. 38; Desc. PI. 5. t. 348.— C. emarginata, Sw. C. alabi, Deso.—k. 

 low dimber.— Hab. Jamaica !, March, in the low lands ; Bahamas !, Swains. 



C. rhombifolia, V., of TTinidad, is doubtful : it is to be compared with the hirsute C. alata. 

 Lam. (C, trifoliata, /acj. Amer. Pict. t. 259./, 8. exclus, synpn.). 



2. VITIS, L. 



Calyx short, subentire or obsoletely 5-lobed. Petals 5, cohering at the top. Disc 

 5-lobed. Ovary of ds^s. Berry 2(-4)-aeeded.— Flowers small, umbellate: umbels in 

 dense panicles. 



4. y. caribsea, DC. Leaves bj:oadly cordate, poiutleted, glabrescent above, rufescent 

 or whitish beueath with suhtomentose down (which persists sometimes onlv on the nerves) 



