560- 



BOTANY. 



Order Menispermacese. — Woody twining plants, with alternate 

 leaves ; flowers diclinous ; petals usually six, with a stamen before 

 (opposite to) each one ; carpels usually three, distinct and one-seeded. 

 Species eighty to one hundred, principally tropical. They generally 

 contain a bitter principle, which in some is tonic, in others narcotic, or 

 . even poisonous. 



Menispermum Unnadeiise, the Moonseed of the Eastern United 

 States, is a beautiful climber deserving cultivation in ornamental gar- 

 dens. Its only congener is a native of Eastern Asia. (Figs. 554-8.) 



Fias. 559-64. — Illustbatioks of Asiuina triloba. 



Fig. 



Fig. 569.— Section of flower. Magnifled. 



Fig. 660. — Flower diairram. Majrniiied.- Fig. 561.- 



Fig. 562.— Section of yoiin^ carpel. Magnified. 



Fig. 563. — Seed. Natural size. Fig. 564.— Section of seed. 



-Young carpel. MagniAed. 



Two other genera, Calycoaarpum and Cocculus, are represented in 

 the United States. 



Many of the Old World species are more or less in repute as furnish- 

 ing medicines, but none are of suflicient importance to be particularly 

 noticed. 



Order Anonaceee. — Trees and shrubs with alternate leaves ; flowers 

 trimerous ; stamens indefinite, on a thickened receptacle ; carpels gen- 

 erally indefinite. Species 400, mcistly tropical. The bark generally 

 contains $in aronjatjc and stimulating, sometimes acrid principle. 



