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Friday 30 June 2017

Word To Use Today: menispermaceous.

Sadly, this glorious word describes a family of plants, the Menispermaceae.

There are about four hundred and forty species of menispermaceous plants to be found in temperate, sub-tropical, tropical and desert regions. They provide the poison-dart substance curare, and from curare we get Tubocurarine, which is used to relax muscles during surgery. Other menispermaceous plants are used for stomach problems including dystentery, and as a yellow fabric dye.

Jateorhiza palmata - Köhler–s Medizinal-Pflanzen-080.jpg
Jateorhiza palmata from Köhler's Medizinal Pflanzen 1887.

Ah well...

...it's still good for a snigger, though, isn't it.

Word To Use Today: menispermaceous. This word comes from the Greek mēnē, moon, and sperma, seed.


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