The Natural System of Botany. 143 



r" f^these, AnonacejE, or the Custard Apple tribe, is distin- 



. -j ^y t he structure of its seed, the inmost coat of which 



f UIS s several folds or plaits. The fruit of some of the species 



ell known by the name of Custard apple, and is eaten 



13 commonly in the West Indies. Its taste is a pleasant 



very 



sub-acid. 



Another order, intermediate between the last mentioned and 

 tip Barberry tribe, is Menispermaceje, the Moon Seed, or Coc- 

 ulus tribe. They are twining, shrubby plants, chiefly distin- 

 guished by the deficiency of parts in their flowers, the same 

 fl wer never having both stamens and pistils, and some of them 

 re dioecious. The number of carpels varies, as does also the 

 decree of their adhesion, so that it is difficult to character- 

 ize the order. The genera, however, correspond in their 

 medicinal characters. Their roots are bitter and aromatic. 

 That called Colombo Root is much used as a tonic, in dyspep- 

 sia diarrhoea, and dysentery. Their seeds, on the other hand, 

 are mostly narcotic, in various degrees. The drug called Coc- 

 culus Indicus, is the seed of an East Indian species, and has 

 been much employed by brewers in England, and perhaps in 

 this country, to heighten the intoxicating properties of their malt 

 liquor, and to such an extent was this practice carried, that an 

 act of parliament has made it illegal for a brewer even to have 

 the article in his possession. Mixed in the form of a pow- 

 der, with crumbs of bread, and thrown into the water, the fish 

 who swallow it become intoxicated, rise to the surface, play 

 strange antics, like all other drunken beings, and are easily 

 taken. This method of capture is sometimes resorted to among 

 us, by boys, or poachers, but never by gentlemen or anglers. 

 Of this tribe one species, Menispermum Canadense, is a native 

 of the Northern States : it climbs among the hedges, bears 

 small yellow axillary flowers in July, and is known by the 

 name of Moon Seed. 



There are two other small orders which may be mentioned 

 here. The order Cabombace^b, or Water Target tribe, contains 

 only two genera. They are curious aquatic plants, and one 

 species, Brasenia, or Hydropeltis purpurea, grows in the fresh 

 water ponds of New England, in company with the Water 

 Lily. The leaves are perfectly elliptical, and float on the 



