430 MENISPEEMAOB^ — BEEBEEIDACEiE. 



Their properties are generally aromatic and fragrant. Some of 

 the plants are bitter and tonic, others yield edible fruits. The cus- 

 tard-apples, Sweetsops, and Soursops of the East and West Indies, are 

 furnished by various species of Anona, such as A. muricata, squamosa, 

 and reticulata. Anona Oherimolia furnishes the Cherimoyer, a well- 

 known Peruvian fruit. The fruit of Xylopia aromatica is commonly 

 called Ethiopian pepper, from being used as pepper in Africa. Xylopia 

 glabra is called Bitter-wood in the West Indies. The Lancewood of 

 coachmakers appears to be furnished by a plant belonging to this 

 order, called by Schomburgk Duguetia quitarensis. 



Order 5. — Menispeemace^, the Moon-seed Family. {Polypet. 

 Sgpog.) Flowers usually unisexual (often dioecious), generally of a 

 pale-greenish hue. Sepals and petals similar in appearance, in two 

 rows, usually 3 in each row, hypogynous, deciduous, Stamens mona^ 

 delphous, or occasionally free ; anthers adnate, extrorse. Carpels 

 solitary or numerous, distinct or partially coherent, unilocular ; ovule 

 solitary, curved (fig. 456, p. 255). Fruit a succulent 1-seeded oblique 

 or lunate drupe. Embryo curved or perpherical ; radicle superior ; 

 albumen fleshy, sometimes wanting. — The plants of this order are 

 sarmentaceous or twining shrubs, with alternate leaves, and very 

 small flowers. The wood is frequently arranged in wedges. The 

 order is common in the tropical parts of Asia and America. There 

 are about 36 known genera, including about 300 species. Examples 

 — Menispermum, Cissampelos, Cocculus. 



The species are bitter and narcotic. Some are employed as tonics, 

 others have poisonous properties. The root of Jateorhim palmata, a 

 plant of east Africa, is known as Oalumba^root, and is used as a pure 

 bitter tonic in cases of dyspepsia, in the form of infusion or tincture. 

 It contains a bitter crystallisable principle called Calumbin. Cocculus 

 indicus is the fruit of Anamirta Gocculus. It is extremely bitter. The 

 seed contains a crystalUne poisonous narcotic principle, Picrotoxin, 

 which is its active ingredient ; while the pericarp yields a non- 

 poisonous substance called Menispermin. The seeds have been used 

 externally in some cutaneous aflections. At one time they were 

 employed, most prejudicially, to give bitterness to porter. Tinospora 

 cordifolia, called Gulancha, is used as a tonic. The stem and root of 

 Ghondodendron tomentosum, found in Peru and Brazil, furnish Pareira^ 

 brava, which is tonic and diuretic, and is used in chronic inflammation 

 of the bladder. Cissampelos ovalifolia and G. Mauritiajia are tonic and 

 diuretic. Goscinium (Menispermum) fenestratum supplies a false 

 Calimiba-root, which contains much Berberine, the same yellow bitter 

 crystalline substance which is found in the Barberry. 



Order 6. — BebbeeidacE/E, the Barberry Family. (Polypet. Hypog.) 

 Sepals 3-4-6, deciduous, in a double row. Petals hypogynous, equal 

 in number to the sepals, and opposite to them, or twice as many, 



