215 
other and lying in separate cells of the albumen, which is thin or fleshy, rarely none ; radicle 
superior, but its position is sometimes obscured by the curvature of the seed. — Shrubs, 
with a flexible tough tissue, and sarmentaceous habit. Leaves alternate, entire or occa- 
sionally divided, mucronate. Flowers small, usually racemose. 
Affinities. Having already explained my own views as to this order, I 
may here mention those of other Botanists. Some Anonacese agree with it in 
having a twining habit, and the whole resemble them in the ternary division of 
their flowers ; De Candolle points out a resemblance with Sterculiaceae, consist- 
ing in the monadelphous stamens and peltate leaves ; according to Aug. de 
St. Hilaire, this order is related to Euphorbiaceae through Phyllanthus, the 
male flowers of which are in certain species absolutely the same as those of 
Cissampelos. It is adso thought to approach Malvaceae by those genera which, 
like Caperonia, have stipulate leaves, and distinct caducous petals separated 
from the calyx by the gynophore. FI. Bras. 59. 
The position of the seed is altered materially from that of the ovule in the 
progress of the growth of the fruit. According to Aug. de St. Hilaire, the 
ovule of Cissampelos is attached to the middle of the side of a straight 
ovary, which after fecundation gradually incurves its apex until the style 
touches the base of the pericarp, when the two surfaces being thus brought 
into contact unite, and a drupe is formed, the seed of which is curved like a 
horse-shoe, and the cavity of which is divided by a spurious incomplete dis- 
sepiment, consisting of two plates : the attachment of the seed is at the top of 
the false dissepiment, on each side of which it extends equally. PI. Usuelles, 
no. 35. The whole order requires careful revision by means of living plants, 
and is well worth the especial attention of some Indian botanist. 
Geography. Tlie whole of this order consists of fewer than a hundred 
species, which are common in the tropics of Asia and America, but uncommon 
out of those latitudes : all Africa contains but 5, North America 6, and 
Siberia 1 . Tlie species are universally found in woods, twining round other 
plants. 
Properties. The root of several species is bitter and tonic, and the seeds 
of some of them narcotic. The root of Menispermum palmatum, Lam. or the 
Calumbo root, is esteemed highly on account of its powerful antiseptic, tonic, 
and astringent properties. See Bot. Mag. fol. 2970. Menispermum cordi- 
folium of WiUd. called Gulancha in Bengal, is used extensively in a variety of 
diseases by the native practitioners of India, especially in such as are attended 
by febrile symptoms not of a high inflammatory kind, and in fevers of debility : 
the parts used are the root, stems, and leaves, from which a decoction called 
Pdchana is prepared. A sort of extract called Palo is obtained from the stem, 
and is considered an excellent remedy in urinary afiections and gonorrhoea. 
Trans. M. &; P. Soc. Calc. 3. 298, Cocculus platyphylla is used by the Bra- 
zilians in intermittent fevers and liver complaints. Its properties, like those 
of Cocculus cinerascens, are highly esteemed, and appear to be due to the pre- 
sence of a bitter and tonic principle. Similar qualities are found in Cocculus 
peltatus, crispus, and Fibraurea by the Malays. Boyle. In the seed of Coc- 
culus suberosus a bitter crystallisable poisonous principle has been detected, 
called picrotoxia. PI. Usuelles, 42. The root of Cocculus Bakis is very bitter 
and diuretic ; it is used in Senegal against intermittent fevers, &c. FI. Seneg. 
1. 13. The roots of the Orelha de Onca of Brazil, Cissampelos ovalifolia, are 
bitter, and their decoction is employed with success in intermittent fevers. PL 
Usuelles, no. 34. Cissampelos ebracteata, also called Orelha de Onca, is 
reputed an antidote to the bite of sei*pents. Ibid. no. 35. The root of 
Cissampelos pareira and Abuta amara is both diuretic and aperient, and known 
under the name of Pareira brava. DC. The Abuta candicans of Cayenne, 
wliere it is known by the name of Liane amere, is extremely bitter. Ibid. The 
