366 THE VEGETABLE WORLD. 
berries. It is a perennial, with large succulent roots, from which 
springs a slender, pale green, hairy stem, which climbs among 
bushes by means of its tendrils, after the manner of the Cucumbers. 
The leaves are palmate and rough on both sides, with callous points. 
The stamens and pistils are on different plants, the stamen-flowers 
being largest, with bluish pale-green veins. The pistiliferous 
flowers are succeeded by the berries. 
PApayYALs. . 
Diclinous exogens, with dichlamydeous flowers, superior carpels, 
consolidated placents, parietal embryo, surrounded by abundant 
albumen. Eleven genera; twenty-nine species. 
Exogenous trees and shrubs, with monopetalous flowers without scales, 
with alternate lobed leaves, and long taper petioles; flowers unisexual CVI. Papayacee. 
in axillary racemes, gometimes solitary, with free ovary, five parietal 
placentz, albuminous seeds. 
lobed,” polypetslous unisesoal axillary ‘Sowece, acltky, in bundles, 8 { crx, Pangincer 
in few flowering racemes. 
The Papaw-tree (Carica Papaya) has the singular property, 
according to Dr. Hooker, of rendering the toughest animal sub- 
stances tender; newly-killed meat, suspended among its branches, 
becomes tender in a wonderfully short time. Old hogs and poultry 
soon fatten when fed upon its leaves; the leaves are also y 
the negroes as a substitute for soap. Some of the Caraya are 
deadly poisons. se 
The Paneracea are mostly natives of the hotter parts of Tndis- 
All are poisonous plants, but contain valuable medicinal aie 
perties. 
