Flora Medica

MEN1SPERMACEJE.762. C. platyphyllus Aug. de St. Hil. pi us. No. 42./. bras.i. 59. Province of Minas Novas in Brazil. (Butua.)Leaves broad heart-shaped, obsoletely crenated, downy and hoaryunderneath. Used for the same purposes as the last ;the propertyappears to be owing to the presence of a bitter and tonic principle.763. C. crispus DC. syst.i. 521. Menispermum crispumLinn, sp.pl. 1468. M. verrucosum Roxb.fi.ind. iii. 808. FunisfelleusRumph.v. t. 44. f. 1. Java, Amboyna, Baley.Stems and branches scandent, and twining, round, much warted.Young shoots round and smooth. The plants in 2 years spread themselvesentirely over pretty large trees. When by accident, or otherwise,any of the stems or larger branches, are cut in two, long filiform rootsspring from the upper portion, let the distance be ever so great, whichquickly descend to, and enter the earth ; by this wonderful economythe perfectibility of the plant is soon restored ;such uncommon carehas Nature taken for the preservation of these plants, which must, nodoubt, be intended for some purpose, of which we are probably stillignorant. Leaves remote, petioled, cordate, acuminate, entire, smoothon both sides ;lobes large, and rounded ;from 4 to 6 inches long, andfrom 3 to 5 broad. Petioles columnar, smooth, two thirds the lengthof the leaves.