270 



stamens 6, inserted at the base of the leaflets, anther wanting in 

 the female flowers : anthers 1 -celled, bUoculafe, fixed by the base, 

 introrse : ovary free, 3- very rarely 1 or 6-celled, obliterated in the 

 male flowers : ovules solitary, seldom twin, pendulous, orthotropal : 

 stigmas 3, sessile, distinct, very rarely connate : berry globose, 1 — 

 3 -seeded : testa membranaceous, adnate to cartilaginous albumen : 

 embryo very small. — ^Under-shmbs, seldom herbs, scandent, with 

 tendnls : tendrils twin, petiolar: leaves scattered, petioled, reticu- 

 lately digito-nerved : flowers umbellate, umbels axillary, solitary, 

 sometimes racemose in leafless branchlets : pedicels not jointed. 



(i) S. OVALEFOUA. fRoxl.j 



Ident. Eoxb. flor. Ind. III. p. 794. 



Engrm. "Wight's Icon. t. 809. — Eheede Mai. vii. t. 31. 



Spec. Chae. Stems climbing, cylindric, larger parts armed with 

 sharp, incurved prickles : tendrils paired, simple : leaves alternate, 

 short-petioled, oval, 5 — 7-nerved, smooth, entire : petioles short- 

 winged, channelled : ^ umbels axillary, compound : umbellets glo- 

 bular: flowers greenish: berries red, smooth, succvilent, 2 — 3- 

 seeded. 



Common in jungles in Malabar and Travancore. Concans. Mower- 

 ing in the hot season. 



(2) S. MACROPHTLLi. fRoxh.) 



Ident. Eoxb. 1. c. p. 793. — Dalz. Bomb, flora p. 246. 



Spec. Chab. Scandent : stem and branches cylindric and prickly : 

 leaves short petioled, round, entire, 5-nerved, glossy : tendnls 

 petiolar, undivided : female peduncles axiUajy, solitary, branched, 

 each with a large globular umbellet of greenish-yellow pedicelled 

 flowers : berries size of a pea, red, smooth, 1 — 2-seeded, round. 



Southern Ghauts. Chorla. 



(3) S. Zetxaotca. (Linn.) 



Ident. Linn. flor. Zeyl. p. 364. — Kunth. Ennm. pi. v. p. 249. 



Ungrwv. Wight's Icon. t. 2057—8. 



Spec. Chab. Stem scandent, obscurely 4-angled, beset, especially 

 the male, with numerous small recurved prickles : leaves from cor- 

 date-ovate acuminate to sub-orbicular, abruptly retusely acuminate 

 5-nerved, the outer pair slender : peduncles axiUary, usually two, 

 sometimes 3-umbelled: flowers longish pedicelled, male 6-androus, 

 without rudimentary pistil : females with 3 rudimentary stamens 

 opposite the outer sepals : berry globose, 3-seeded. 



Eastern slopes of the Neilgherries. Flowering from September 

 to December. 



