Vines and lianas [shrubs or trees], deciduous, woody at least at base, twining or clambering. Stems striate, without spines. Leaves alternate, simple; stipules absent; petioles present. Leaf-blade palmately veined, often palmately lobed. Inflorescences axillary or terminal, fascicles, cymes, racemes, or panicles, flowers pedicillate. Flowers unisexual, staminate and pistillate on different plants, never showy; sepaloid bracteoles absent; perianth hypogynous, segments distinct or fused, not showy, greenish white to white or cream, imbricate or valvate. Staminate flowers: sepals usually 6, not spurred; petals usually 6, sometimes absent, distinct or connate, ± concave, frequently minute; nectaries absent; stamens either opposite petals and equal in number, or numerous; filaments distinct or united; anthers dehiscing longitudinally [or transversely]; pistillodes sometimes present. Pistillate flowers: sepals (4-) 6, sometimes reduced to 1; petals often 6 or reduced to 1, ± concave, usually minute; nectaries absent; staminodes frequently present; pistils 1-6; ovules 2, aborting to 1, amphitropous; style often recurved; stigma entire or lobed. Fruits drupes, straight or horseshoe-shaped; exocarp membranous; mesocarp ± pulpy; endocarp (stone) bony, often warty, ribbed. Seeds never stalked; endosperm present or absent; embryo usually curved.

Distribution

Widespread in temperate and tropical regions

Discussion

Genera ca. 78, species ca. 525 (4 genera, 5 species in the flora).

Selected References

Diels, F. L. E. 1910. Menispermaceae. In: H. G. A. Engler, ed. 1900-1953. Das Pflanzenreich.... 107 vols. Berlin. Vol. 46[IV,94], pp. 334-345.

Ernst, W. R. 1964. The genera of Berberidaceae, Lardizabalaceae, and Menispermaceae in the southeastern United States. J. Arnold Arbor. 45: 1-35.

Lower Taxa

Calycocarpum, Cissampelos, Cocculus, Menispermum

Illustrations

	Family ⠉	Taxon	Illustrator ⠉
	Berberidaceae Lardizabalaceae Menispermaceae	Jeffersonia diphylla Akebia quinata Calycocarpum lyonii	John Myers John Myers John Myers
	Menispermaceae Menispermaceae Menispermaceae	Cissampelos pareira Cocculus carolinus Menispermum canadense	John Myers John Myers John Myers

Key

1	Inflorescences with bracts; pistillate flowers: sepal 1, petal 1, pistil 1; staminate flowers (not known in flora): sepals 4, petals 4, connate, stamen filaments fused, anthers 1-locular; leaf blade usually reniform; drupes pubescent	Cissampelos
1	Inflorescences with minute bracts or bracts absent; pistillate and staminate flowers: sepals 6-9, petals distinct when present, stamen filaments distinct, anthers 2-4-locular, pistils 2-6; leaf blade various shapes, rarely reniform; drupes glabrous.	> 2
2	Petals absent or vestigial; anthers 2-locular; ovary ellipsoid to fusiform; stigma multicleft; leaf blade not mucronate at apex, surfaces sparsely bristly or glabrous; endocarp smooth, excavate on 1 side, margins erose	Calycocarpum
2	Petals well developed; anthers 4-locular; ovary slightly asymmetrically pouched; stigma entire or slightly lobed; leaf blade mucronate at apex, surfaces soft-pubescent or glabrous; endocarp warty and ribbed, depressed but not excavate.	> 3
3	Inflorescences usually racemes or racemose panicles; petals 6, to 2 mm, with auriculate basal lobes; stamens 6; pistils 6; leaf blades not peltate	Cocculus
3	Inflorescences usually of well-developed panicles; petals (4-)6(-12), to 4 mm, without auriculate basal lobes; stamens 12-36; pistils (2-)3(-4); leaf blade usually peltate, petiole inserted near margin	Menispermum