1838.] Observqtio?is on the Flora of Coarlallam. 94 



one body, having a round head all covered with anthers, as 

 in Anamirta ( Cocculus indicus J; or there are only 4 stamens 

 united into a square centre column, the anthers opening 

 transversely on the four faces, as in Cissampelos. The former 

 genera usually produce three, rarely 6 or more, distinct car- 

 pels from each female flower ; in Cissampelos only one. In 

 this last, several of these drupes are usually embraced by a 

 broad succulent bractea, producing the appearance of a leafy 

 cluster. 



As already observed, this is rather an important Order, in 

 an economical point of view : supplying the London porter 

 brewer with Cocculus indicus ( anamirta cocculus J, and the 

 physician with one of his best tonics — the Columbo root f coc- 

 culus palmatus J, among the strongest and purest of vegetable 

 bitters. This most valuable plant is now cultivated in the 

 Mauritius, and was formerly found to thrive well at Madras. 

 It is one of considerable commercial importance, a native 

 of Madagascar, and might, I am confident, be cultivat- 

 ed with advantage in the light sandy soils of this 

 country, much in the same way that yams are, and with 

 equal ease and success. The Cocculus (menispermum) 

 cordifolius, which has been much extolled as a febrifuge 

 iii Bengal under the name of Galancha, is a native of 

 the peninsula, and is common in hedges and among 

 bushes, is another member of this family. Ainslie informs 

 us that the tender shoots of this plant, which are bitter and 

 a little nauseous to the taste, when dried and powdered, are 

 prescribed as an alterative in jaundice and depraved habit, 

 by the Hindoo practitioners, and, on the authority of Dr. 

 Fleming, that the leaves are febrifuge. In theMaterialndica 

 he adds, that from 15 to 20 grains of the root is a powerful 



\ emetic, and is much used in the Chittore district in cases of 

 snake-bite. It is the root which is used in Bengal against 

 fever. It seems to possess the properties of ipecacuana in an 



! eminent degree. Under Cissampelos pareira, Ainslie speaks 



1 very favourably of the medical properties of the root of 

 cissampelos convolmilacea, a very common Indian plant. He 

 says that it is a very agreeable bitter and stomachic, fre- 

 quently prescribed by the natives in the latter stages of 



i bowel complaint. 



