AM 1'ELIDE.E. 
179 
arbours. It affords in this manner a close shade, and preserves 
its verdure in the driest seasons. It has received the very ill- 
applied designation of “ the Wild Yam." It is a favourite 
among the Negroes as an application to sores, and is used as a 
substitute for adhesive plaster. The leaves have a pungent 
biting taste, resembling that of the Arum tribe. When bruised 
in water, they make a lather like soap. 
2. * Cissus rugosa. Rugose Bastard Bryony. 
Leaves cordate trifid or quinquefid rugose, flowers 
racemose — Hobi ns on . 
Lunan’s Hort. Jam. II. 316. 
HAB. Near Longville, Clarendon. 
FL. ? 
According to Robinson, the leaves are divided like the Vine, 
and the berries are as large as the common grape. 
3. Cissus acida. Sorrel- Vine. 
Leaves 3-foliate fleshy glabrous, leaflets obovate 
wedge-shaped and entire at the base, toothed at the 
apex. 
Irsiola, Browne, 147 Bryonia alba, Sloane , I. 233. t. 142. 
f. 6. — Vitis trifoliata, Plum. Spec. 18. t. 259. f. 5. — Cissus 
acida, Swartz, Obs. 49. — Jacq. Sclurnb. I. t. 33. 
HAB. Common, climbing on rocky banks and loose stone 
walls. 
FL. May — September. 
Stem climbing, suff'ruticose, terete, glabrous, ash-coloured ; 
ffexuose, geniculated : branchlets short, green, compressed, 
striated. Leaflets wedge-shaped and attenuated into a petiolule 
and entire at the base, rounded and inciso- dentate at tl;e apex, 
sub-succulent, with the veins obscure and vein-like : petiole 
semi-terete, channelled above. Stipules falciform, obtuse, de- 
ciduous. Tendrils, those of the stem opposite to the situation 
of a leaf which has dropt off, stiff : those of the branchlets op- 
posite to the subterminal leaves, long, filiform. Peduncle op- 
posite to the lower leaves of the branchlets, and longer than 
them, solitary, anguloso-striated, bearing an umbel : rays of the 
umbel 5, compressed, each bearing an umbellet of pedicelled 
greenish yellow flowers. Bracteoles at the divisions of the 
umbel and at the base of the pedicels, small, ovate. Calyx ur- 
ceolate, obsoletely 4-toothed. Petals 4, oblong, thickened and 
slightly hooded internally at the apex, deciduous. Stamens 4, 
opposite to, and shorter than the petals, into the concavity of 
whose hood the anthers are received. Style short, conical at 
the base : stigma simple. Berry black, 1-seeded. 
All parts of the plant have an acid taste. 
