180 FLOEA INDTCA. \Menispermace(e . 



The leaves of this interesting plant are somewhat raembrauouSj oblong-lanceolate 

 and acuminate, tive-nerved at the base, glabrous on both sides and paler below, 6-7 

 inches long, and 2^-3 broad, with a long slender petiole (3-3i- inches), twisted near 

 the base, and falsely articulate at each end. In foliage it somewhat resembles Tino- 

 misdum, a genus of which the position is doubtful, the male flowers only being 

 known : with this it agrees in the elongated petioles, but the leaves are thinner, more 

 pointed, and five-nerved at the base ; still, though not identical in species, it is cer- 

 tainly probable that the two are congeners. 



2. ASPIDOCARYA, H.f et T 



Sepala 6-12, ovali-oblonga, interiora serisim latiora. Petala 6, cu- 

 neato-obovata, sepalis breviora. Mas. Stamina in columnam cen- 

 tralem eylindricam apice antheras 6 horizontales gerentem coalita. 

 P(EM. Stamina sterilia 6, olavata. Onaria 3, oblonga; stigmata sub- 

 oapitata. Drupa pulposae, oblongae, cyKudricse, putamine compresso 

 dorso argute carinato, ventre hand excavato. Semen pendulum, ob- 

 longum, antice rhaphe oonspioua notatum. Albumen carnosum. Ra- 

 dicula brevis, hilo termiuali approximata. Colyledones reotse, plante, 

 oblongae, tenuisaimse, obliquse, basi divaricatee, dein parallelse, margi- 

 nibus oppositis tantum se invicem obtegentes. — Frutex scandens, petio- 

 lis cum canle pseudo-arliculatls, prope basin debilibus subtoriis, floribus 

 in paniculas racemifonnes elongatas subcompositas axillares dispositis. 



This interesting plant comes very near Paratama, but differs in many points of 

 the structure of the female flower and fruit. The seed is attached to the top of the 

 cell, so that the ovule must be anatropous. The putamen and seed are also quite 

 flat anteriorly, and not excavated like those of Parabeena. The inflorescence, too, is 

 very diflerent. It therefore forms a new genus, the name of which is derived from 

 o.(nzis, a shield^ and Kapvov^ a nut. 



The wood of Aspidocarya differs remarkably from that of other Menispermacea , 

 in respect of the crescent-shaped iSnudles of tissue, altogether resembling liber, which 

 are found at the inner end of each wood-wedge. 



A piece of stem several years old, and from \-~ inch in diameter, is deeply furrowed, 

 spongy, and much compressed. Pith broad, white, of hexagonal soft cellular tissue, be- 

 coming much closer, smaller, and longer towards the wood, and occupying three-fourths 

 of the circumference of the stem. Medullary rays of dense cellular tissue. Wedges of 

 mood towards circumference, about 20, broadly ovate, margined radially by a narrow 

 crescent-shaped mass of pleurenchyma. Wood of dotted pleurenchyma, and nume- 

 rous very large vessels, with short transverse strife on their walls. Liber-hmdies 

 forming almost a horse-shoe round half the cii'cumference of tlie wedge, the conti- 

 guous bundles approaching and almost cohering. The liber is annually added to, but 

 not the tissue at the inner end of the wood. Bark of several series of cellular 

 layers. 



1. A. uvifera (H.f. et T.) ; foliis rotundato- vel ovato-cordatis 

 subpeltatis abrupte et longe acurainatis subtus ad nervos pilosis. 



Hab. Ill Sikkim exteriovi subtropico, alt. 1-5000 ped. — (Fl. Mai. ; 

 fr. Jul.) {v. V.) 



Frutex alte scandens. Hamuli cylindriei, striati, sparse strigoso-puberuli. Folia 

 4-6 poll, longa, 3-6 lata, petiole fere fcquilongo, basi leviter vol profunde cordata, 

 lobis rotundatis vel subtnancatis rarius subsagittatis, supra ad nervos pubescentia de- 

 mum glabra, subtus praiscitim ad nervos pilosa, basi 5-uervia, crclfium penninervia. 

 I'etio/i cylindriei, striati, basin versus incrassati. raiiiculiP i-S-polHcares, ramis 



