10. Petals with a long claw, enclosed by the sepals. Upper sepal erect, helmet-shaped. Flowers yellow.--Species 1. North-west Africa (Morocco). Poisonous and used in medicine. =Aconitum= L. Petals sessile, projecting beyond the sepals. Upper sepal spreading, spur-shaped.--Species 18. North and East Africa. Some are poisonous or used in medicine or as ornamental plants. “Larkspur.” =Delphinium= L. FAMILY 79. BERBERIDACEAE Leaves alternate or all radical. Flowers in racemes, hermaphrodite. Sepals 4-9, more or less petal-like and yellow, at least the inner ones. Petals (nectaries) 4-8. Stamens 4-6, free. Anthers turned inwards, opening by valves. Ovary superior, 1-celled. Ovules 2 or more, basal or inserted along the ventral suture. Stigma 1. Fruit a capsule or a berry. Seeds with a straight embryo and copious albumen.--Genera 3, species 6. North and East Africa. 1. Stem woody, shrubby. Leaves undivided. Inflorescence terminal. Flowers 6-merous. Fruit a berry.--Species 4. North and East Africa. They yield timber, tanning and dyeing materials, fish-poison, medicaments, and edible fruits which are also used for the preparation of drinks and confectionery. “Barberry.” [Tribe BERBERIDEAE.] =Berberis= L. Stem herbaceous, low. Leaves dissected. Inflorescence lateral. Fruit a capsule. [Tribe EPIMEDIEAE.] 2 2. Flowers 4-merous. Ovules many, inserted along the ventral suture. Fruit opening by two valves. Seeds with an aril.--Species 1. North-west Africa. =Epimedium= L. Flowers 6-merous. Ovules few, basal. Fruit bursting irregularly. Seeds without an aril.--Species 1. North-west Africa. The tubers are used in medicine and as a substitute for soap. =Leontice= L. FAMILY 80. MENISPERMACEAE Stem usually woody and twining. Leaves alternate, undivided, palmately lobed or digitate, nearly always exstipulate. Flowers small, unisexual, nearly always dioecious, mostly in racemes or panicles. Sepals usually 6. Petals usually 6, smaller than the sepals, sometimes absent. Stamens generally as many as and opposite the petals. Anthers opening by slits. Carpels 3-30, separate, more rarely solitary. Ovule 1, pendulous or laterally affixed, half-inverted with superior micropyle, sometimes accompanied at first by a second which is soon suppressed. Fruits drupaceous.--Genera 27, species 100. (Plate 47.) 1. Sepals 4 in the male flowers, 1-2 in the female. Petals of the male flowers 2-4, united below, of the female 1-3. Stamens united. Carpels solitary. 2 Sepals 6-24, rarely (_Stephania_) in the female flowers only 3-4. Petals free or wanting. Carpels 3-30, free, rarely (_Stephania_) solitary. 3 2. Female flowers with 1 sepal and 1 petal, rarely with 2-3 petals, in cymes. Leaves broad. Usually high-climbing plants.--Species 12. Tropical and South Africa. Some are used medicinally. =Cissampelos= L.