which they are thus associated, we cannot find one other important circumstance of agreement.
It is usual to station them near Berberacece or Anonaccs ; but what their affinity really is with
such orders it is difficult to conceive, even if we admit their relationship to Schizandrece. But
if we look at them with an unprejudiced eye, we cannot fail to be struck with their general re semblance
to Smilaccce among Endogens, differing in little except their Dicotyledonous, more
highly developed, embryo, and exogenous stem. In the next place, their floral envelopes,
although in two rows, and therefore technically composed of both calyx and corolla, agree
altogether with the biseriate calyx of some Polygonacece, such as Rumex. Thirdly, the absence
of zones from the wood assimilates them to Columnosae. In short, look at these plants in what
way we will, their relation seems to be in all important particulars with Imperfects. I, therefore,
station them here at the peril of offending all the prejudices that have been gradually
growing up since the appearance of the Genera plantarum of Jussieu in 1789. ’
The following extract from the same work, (Lindley’s Natural System of Botany) explains
the changes of position which the seed undergoes, in its progress from the ovule, to the mature
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 dissepiment, 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,”
G eographical D istribution. As already stated, this is mainly a tropical order, the
species of which are, with a few exceptions, natives of America, and Asia. Only five are
known from Africa, and Siberia has one. Mr. Hoyle mentions some species as extending up
to the foot of the Himalayas, and states that, Cocculus laurifolius is only found at elevations,
on these mountains, of from 3,000 to 5,000 feet. Of the number of species referable to this
order, it seems at present impossible to do more than make a guess, owing to the uncertainty
which prevails in regard to them : many having been described under two or three different
names, or vice versd, two or three under one. Dr. Lindley estimates them under 100, Roxburgh
describes 19, Blume gives characters of 16 from Java, exclusive of allied genera. Dr.
Arnott and myself, after reducing some species enumerated in Botanical works, assigned 11
as the number referable to the Peninsular'flora: one or two I have since added, but even with
these additions, I doubt whether the continental flora, so far as yet known, contains more than
25 species. Dr. Wallich, in-his list of Indian plants, enumerates 31, but not all continental,
and as some of them have, on more careful examination than he had time to bestow, been found
untenable, I believe, my estimate though moderate, will be found rather to exceed than fall
short of the actual number, on excluding Stauntonia, which Mr. R. Brown does not consider
a member of this order.
P roperties and U ses. This order though of limited extent, and having nothing attractive
in its appearance, yet claims for itself, much consideration, on account of the valuable properties
many of its species is known to contain. To it we are indebted for the deservedly
esteemed Colombo root, the produce of Cocculus palmatus, so valuable on account of its tonic,
and antiseptic properties : the Pareira bravo,, which was at one time esteemed so powerful.a
lithontriptic, that it was expected to render useless the operation of Lithotomy, and is still considered
in Bazil, its native country, as a most useful remedy in all affections of the urinary
passages. To this order also, we are indebted for the Cocculus indicus, so well known in commerce,
but for purposes of such doubtful propriety, that its employment by the brewer to adulterate
Ale or Beer, is prohibited under no less a penalty than £200 and £500, upon the seller. The
Guluncha, of this country, so strongly recommended as a febrifuge, (see Calcutta Medical
Transactions,) is equally derived from this family. Bitter and tonic properties, in short, seem
to pervade every member of the order. The Cocculus (menispermum) palmatus was formerly
successfully cultivated in Madras, but being confined to a male plant, was soon lost, it is however,
I believe, now growing in the Calcutta botanic garden, and is largely cultivated for its
root in the Mauritius.
The extract of Guluncha may be procured from the bruised stems of both Cocculus
verrucosus and cordif'olive, two very nearly allied species, the former, the produce of the
Eastern Islands, the latter, met with in every part of India. The young shoots of the latter are
prescribed as a tonic and alterative by the native doctors, and Dr. Ainslie informs us, apparently
from his own knowledge of the fact, that the root, in doses of from 15 to 20 grains is a
powerful emetic; in which case, it would probably form an excellent substitute for Ipecacuanha.
Those who propose making trials of the medicine, ought to collect the plant during the dry
season, as it is found to become quite inert during the wet. Several other species of Cocculus are
common on this coast, and probably all possess to a greater or less extent, similar properties.
Anamirta ( Menispermum) Cocculus, is abundant in Malabar, and also in the jungles of Cour-
tallum. The seed of this plant is now ascertained to be an active irritating poison to quadrupeds
and fishes, and is supposed to be so to man, as it communicates a poisonous quality to the
flesh of fishes poisoned by it. They are not I believe used internally in medicine, but powdered
and mixed with oil, they are used in Malabar in the cure of the inveterate cutaneous
diseases, so common on that coast. These seeds have been repeatedly analysed : the kernel is
oily with a nauseous and intensely bitter taste. On analysis it produced nearly half its weight
of fixed oil, a concrete of the consistence of wax, an albumenous “ Vegeto-animal” substance,'
a colouring matter, and a bitter crystalizable principle, to which the name of Picrotoxia (bitter
poison) has been given, on which its poisonous properties depend, and which is so active, that
12 grains given to a dog killed it in about 50 minutes, notwithstanding the copious vomiting
which it excited. What renders this a more redoubtable agent is, the circumstance of its
leaving scarcely any trace of its presence on the coats of the stomach. It seems a subject worthy
of the attention of Chemists, to ascertain whether a similar principle exists in the seed of other
species. Ceylon produces a large twining shrub, which Gsertner and Roxburgh have described
under the name of Menispermum fenestratum, but which Mr. Colebrooke has with great propriety
removed from that genus and constituted it the type of a new one under the name of
Cosinium, the wood of which is yellow and bitter, and when sliced and infused in water for a
few hours, is swallowed with the infusion, and recommended as an excellent stomachic.
The allied genera of Cissampelos and Clypea possess bitter and tonic properties analagous
to the these found in Cocculus, and are used as such by native practitioners. The roots however
of Cissampelos glabra Bosh, are stated by Roxburgh to be extremely acrid, but are notwithstanding
used in medicine by the native practitioners. In the West Indies and America,
where the true Ciss. Pareira is found, it is much employed as a tonic in diseases of debility, as
well as in those affecting the urinary organs, and is there esteemed, and even called, a universal
medicine. Sir B. Brodies in his lectures on diseases of the urinary organs recommends it as
particularly valuable, in all cases where there is a copious discharge of urine with a ropy alca-
line mucus. It is also serviceable in catarrhus vesicas,
. R emarks on G enera and S pecies. The number of genera referable to this order is large
in proportion to the number of species; four only of these have however, as yet, been found in the
Indian Peninsula, viz. Anamirta—Cocculus - Cissampelos and Clypea, all readily distinguished
oy their male flowers. Anamirta, by having its stamens numerous and united into a globose
head. Cocculus, by having them all free, and limited to sex, each embraced by a petal, or petaloid
scale. Cissampelos, by having four stamens united into a quadrangular disk, a 4-sepaled calyx
and petaloid scales combined into a single, cup-like, petal, embracing the single filament. Clypea
by having the stamens united, and forming a circular disk, surrounded by a 6-lobed calyx and
united, petaloid scales, as in Cissampelos. The seed in all are oblique, and curved, so as to bring
the ends together like a horse-shoO. With reference to the species, I have nothing to offer in
addition to what has been already said in our flora, with the exception, that Rheede’s figure vol.
7, tab. 62, quoted for Cocculus suberorsus, or Anamirta Cocculus, is more properly referable to
y macrocarpiis, and that vol. 7, tables 19, 20 and 21, quoted for C. malabaricus, and C. cordi-
jotius, seem all referable to the same species, and I think have a strong general resemblance to
•anamirta, but certainly want the panicled inflorescence of that genus. Neither of these however,
are good figures of C. cordifolius. Our genus Clypea, embraces the elements of two