194 Descriptions of Malayan Plants. 



seed. Cotyledons plano-convex, of a deep green colour, 

 somewhat rugose externally, and punctate on the inner 

 surface. Radicle superior, obverse to the umbilicus, short, 

 straight, cylindrical, obtuse, covered with ferruginous down. 

 It is elongated into a short conical plumule. 



XXV. AMPELIDEiE. 



VITIS RACEMIFERA. (W. J,) 



Tetrandra, foliis quinatis, foliolis spinescenti-serratis sub- 

 tus incanis, cirrhis oppositifolis racemiferis, racemis compo- 

 sitis longissimis, baccis dispermis. 



Akar Charikun, or Bayur Akar. Malay, 



Native of Sumatra. 



A large strong woody climber. Branches round, vil- 

 lous. Leaves alternate, quinate, leaflets pedicellate, oblong ' 

 obovate, acute, subspinoso-serrate, the serratures being 

 formed by the spinescent termination of the nerves, smooth 

 above, hoary beneath, frequently with a ferruginous shade. 

 Petioles villous. Cirrhi opposed to the leaves, very long, 

 simple or bifid, when bifid one branch becomes the pedun- 

 cle. Racemes very long, compound, consisting of numerous 

 densely flowered racemuli inserted on a peduncle formed 

 of the thickened tendril. The whole raceme is often a foot 

 and a half in length. Peduncles ferruginously villous. 

 Flowers sessile on the partial peduncles, small, green. 

 Calyx minute, embracing the base of the corolla, quadri- 

 dentate. Corolla deeply four-parted. Stamina four, an- 

 thers yellow. Ovary surrounded by a fleshy ring, tetras- 

 porous. Style scarce any. Stigma thick. Berry of the ^ 

 shape of an olive and nearly as large, purple, juicy, two- i 

 seeded. J 



