VII. MENISPEEME^. 199 



The bark of Anonacem is usually more or less aromatic and stimulating; in some species the taste is 

 acrid and almost nauseous ; the leaves possess similar hut less powerful properties, the fruits are aromatic 

 and hot {Xylopia), or nearly inodorous, and these alone are eatable. The Malayans use the bark of 

 several Anonaceee, reduced to pjilp, for bruises and rheumatic pains, and the fruit of others as a stomachic. 

 With the flowers of Uvaria odorata, and with other aromatics and Curcuma root, they prepare an ointment 

 with which they anoint themselves, to ward off fever in the rainy season. European women in 

 India, it is said, macerate these scented flowers in cocoa-nut oil, as a hair oil. The root of Polyatthia 

 maorophylla is strongly aromatic, and the Javanese mountaineers use an infusion of it in eruptive fevers ; 

 they also use the fruits of P. mbcordata to allay nervous colics. AHabotrys suaveolens grows in nearly 

 all the islands of the Malay Archipelago; from- its infused leaves is prepared an aromatic medicine, 

 which is very efiicacious in inducing reaction during the cold stage of cholera. The aromatic fruit of 

 Xylopia grandi/lora furnishes the Brazilians with a condiment and a stimulating drug ; that of X. frutescens, 

 a shrub found throughout tropical America, is used as pepper by the negros ; that of X longifoUa, which 

 grows on the shores of the Orinoco, is reckoned one of the best substitutes for quinine. X. cBthiopioa 

 furnished the ancients with Ethiopian pepper, before black pepper was introduced from India. The 

 Asmninas of STorth America are remarkable for theiiT nauseous odour ; the leaves of A. triloba are used to 

 hasten the ripening of abscesses ; its berries are eatable, but its seeds are emetic. Many species of Anona 

 produce agreeable fruits, much esteemed in the tropics, as the Peruvian Cherimoya {Anona CMrimolia), 

 the Sweet Sop {A. squamosa), and (the Custard-Apple (A. muricata). The West Indian A^ netioulata has a 

 mucilaginous, astringent,,disagreeably tasted fruit, and is employed as an anti-dysenterio and vermifuge. 

 All these are natives of America; whence they have been transported by man to the Old Wojld. 



VII. MENISPERME^. 



(Menispebma, Jussieu. — Menispeemoide^, Ventenat. — Meuispbirme^, D.G.) 



Flowers diceciows. Sepals usually 6, free, 2-seri!it6, imbricate^ Petals %po- 

 gynous, usually 6, imhricate, 2-seriate. Stamens mserted on the receptacle, equal and 

 opposite to the petals, rarely more or fewetr, sterile or in the § flowers. Carpels 

 usually 3, rarely oo, distinct, 1-ovuled, rudimentary or in the $ flowers. Drupes 

 with the stylary scar often basal. Seeds albuminous or not. Embryo usually curved ; 

 radicle facing the stylary sca/r, — Stem usually woody, climbing or twiming. Leaves 

 alternate, exstipulate. 



Stem climbing ; branchlets finely striate, sometimes twining, woody, or suffru- 

 ticose, rarely herbaceous and springing from a woody rbizome {Gissampelos) . Leaves 

 alternate, exstipulate, usually palminerved, entire or palmilobed or peltate, rarely 

 compound {Burasaia), petiole spuriously jointed at tbe base, and sometimes at tbe 

 top. Elowees dioecious, small, in a panicle, raceme or cyme, rarely solitary, some- 

 times accompanied by cordate bracts (Gissampelos). Sepals usually 6, 2-seriate, 

 sometimes 9 3-seriate or 12 4-seriate, rarely 4 {Gissampelos), sometimes 4 or 8 

 (Menispermum), very rarely 5 (Sarcopetalum), usually distinct, very rarely coherent 

 {SyncUsia, Oyclea). Petals usually 6, 2-seriate, imbricate, but equal and simulating 

 a single series, smaller than the inner sepals, rarely 4 or 8 (Gyclea), very rarely 1, 3, 

 or 6 {Stephania), or 2 {Gissampelos), or {Anamirta, Abuta, &c.), very rarely united 

 {Gissampelos). Stamens as many as petals, usually 6, opposite to the petals, very 

 rarely 3 {TricUsia, &c.), or 4-8 {Oyclea), or 9 {Limacia, &c.), or oo {Menispermum) ; 



