106 



MEDICAL BOTANY. 



vermin. The principal consumption of these seeds is for the purpose of adul- 

 terating malt liquors to make them more inebriating; whether this dangerous 

 fraud is practised in this country there is no direct evidence, but that it is 

 common in England, and to a very great extent, is generally admitted. In a 

 treatise on brewing, by Morrice, he states that it gives an inebriating quality 

 which passes for strength of liquor, and prevents a second fermentation in 

 bottled beer, and consequently the bursting of bottles in a warm climate. 



The root is used in India in many diseases of the bowels, and is highly 

 esteemed, the branches are said to afford a rich yellow dye. 



Several other plants are said to furnish seeds possessed of much the same 

 qualities as those of the Anamirta ; among these the Cocculus lacunosus 

 and C plukenetii are noticed by Meratand De Lens, but whether they belong 

 to Anamirta or Cocculus has not been determined. 



Cissampelos. — Linn. 



Flowers dioecious. Sterile flowers, sepals 4 in a double series ; petals 4, united into a 

 cup-shaped corolla. Stamens 5, anthers connate. Fertile flowers. Sepal 1, rounded ; 

 petal 1. Fruit a 1-seeded berry. 



This genus as instituted by Linnaeus, contained a number of species pos- 

 sessed of very dissimilar characters, but is now very greatly restricted, though 

 it still requires much investigation, as the limits of the several species are by 

 no means settled in a satisfactory manner. They are all natives of tropical 

 climates, and are found both in Asia and South America, but principally in 

 the latter. 



C. pareira, Linn. — Leaves peltate, orbicular, cordate, villous ; sterile flowers racemose ; 

 fertile flowers spicate longer than the leaves. 



Linn., Sp. PI. 1473 ; De Candolle, Prod. i. 533 ; Flor. Medicale, v. 262 ; 

 Woodville, t. 82 ; Lindley, Flor. Med. 372. 

 Common names. — Velvet leaf, Ice vine. 

 Foreign names. — Pareira brava, Fr. Sp.; Grieswurzel, Ger. 



Fig- 61. Description. — The velvet- 



leaf is a climbing shrub, attain- 

 ing a great size and covering 

 even the tallest trees with its 

 foliage. The root is woody and 

 branching. The stem is round, 

 smooth, or with a closely-ap- 

 pressed tomentum. The leaves 

 are large, peltate, subcordate, 

 ovate articulate, of a dark 

 green, and smooth above and 

 silky pubescent beneath. The 

 flowers are unisexual; the 

 males with four sepals in a 

 double range, and four petals 

 forming a cup-like corolla, with 

 an entire margin. The sta- 

 mens arc united, bearing con- 

 nate anthers opening horizon- 

 Thc female flowers have but a single sepal and petal. The ovary is solitary, sur- 

 The fruit is a round, or reniform, hispid, scarlet berry. 



1. Separate flowers 



tally. 



mounted with three stigmas. 





