CHAP. VII.

menisperma'ceal co'cculus.

297

Variety.

J M. c. 2 lobatum Dec. The foied-leaved Canadian Moonseed. M.virglnicum L. — This variety is distinguished by the angles of theleaves being acutish, and the flowers of a greenish white. Figuredin Dill. Elth., t. 178. fig. 219.

Geography, History, fyc. Found in North America, among bushes, on thebanks of rivers, and on fertile declivities, from Canada to Carolina; and alsoindigenous in Siberia. It was cultivated, in 1713, by Bishop Compton ; and is| not unfrequent in British botanic gardens, and in our principal nurseries. Itwill grow in any free, deep, and rather moist soil; and, as it sends up nume-rous shoots from its thick woody roots, it is easily propagated by dividing them,or by layers made in autumn, which will root in one year. Both the male andfemale plants are in Lee’s Nursery ; and the male of the variety M. c. lobatumis in the garden of the London HorticulturalSociety. Price, of plants in the London nur-series, Is. (id. each ; at Bollwyller, 90 cents;in New York, 25 cents.

A 2. Menispe'rmum dau'ricum Dec.

The Daiirian Moonseed.

Identification. Dec. Prod., 1. p. 102.; Don’s Mill., 1. p. 112.

Synonyme. Trilophus Ampelis&gria Fisck. ; M. canadensevar. (3 Lam.

Engravings. Deless, Icon., 1.1. 100. and our fig. 43.

Spec. Char. Leaves peltate, smooth, cordate, angular;angles acute, terminal one acuminated hardly mucronate.

Racemes in pairs, capitulate. ( Don's Mill., i. p. 112.) Atwining shrub, resembling M. canadense, but smaller inall its parts, and, probably, only a variety of that species.

Flowers yellowish. June and July. 1818. Found inDatiria, on rocky hills near the river Chilca, and said tobe introduced into England in 1818 ; but we have neverseen it.

3. M. smila'cinum Dec. The Smilax-like Moonseed.

Identification. Dec. Syst., 1. p. 541.: Don’s Mill., 1. p. 112.

Synonyme. Cissampelos smilacina Lin.

Engravings. Jacq. Icon., t. 629.; Catesb. Carol., 1. t 51. j and our fig. 44.

44 Spec. Char. Leaves.peltate, smoothish, cordate-roundish, bluntly

angular, under surface glaucous. Racemes simple. Petals 4.(Don’s Mill., i, p, 112.) A climbing shrub, with slender stalks,and l eaves resembling those of the common ivy. The flowers,which appear in July and August, are white, and the berriesare red, about the size of small peas, and grow in clusters.Found in Carolina by Catesby, and first described by him. Itwas introduced into Britain in 1776, by Dr. Hope, then professorof feotany at Edinburgh. The plant is rather scarce in Britishgardens; and, when it is met with, it is generally in a green-house ; though there can be little doubt of its being half-hardy.

Genus II.

ilia

A CO'CCULUS Bauh. The Cocculus. Lin. Syst. Dice'cia Ilexfindria.

Identification. Bauh. Pin., 511. j Dec. Prod., 1. p. 96.; Don’s Mill., 1. p. 104.

Synonymes. Menispermum L. ; Wendl&ndia Willd.; Andrdphilax Wendt.

| Derivation. From coccus, the systematic name of cochineal, which is applied to this genus onj account of the greater number of the species bearing scarlet berries.

I Gen. Char. Sepals and petals disposed in a ternary order, in 2, very rarely in! 3 series. Male flowers with 6 free stamens opposite the petals ; female ones

with 3 or 6 carpels. Drupes baccate, I to 6, usually obliquely reniform,I somewhat flattened, 1-seeded. Cotyledons distant. ( Don’s Mill., i. p. 101.)

! Description. This is a genus of climbing or twining shrubs, with peltate,

j cordate, ovate or oblong, entire, rarely lobed, leaves. Peduncles axillary,