''Menispermum'' (moonseed) is a small

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

deciduous In the fields of horticulture and botany, the term deciduous () means "falling off at maturity" and "tending to fall off", in reference to trees and shrubs that seasonally shed Leaf, leaves, usually in the autumn; to the shedding of petals, aft ...

climbing woody vines in the moonseed family (

Menispermaceae Menispermaceae (botanical Latin: 'moonseed family' from Greek ''mene'' 'crescent moon' and ''sperma'' 'seed') is a family (biology), family of flowering plants. The alkaloid tubocurarine, a neuromuscular blocker and the active ingredient in the ...

). Plants in this genus have small

dioecious Dioecy ( ; ; adj. dioecious, ) is a characteristic of certain species that have distinct unisexual individuals, each producing either male or female gametes, either directly (in animals) or indirectly (in seed plants). Dioecious reproduction is ...

flower Flowers, also known as blooms and blossoms, are the reproductive structures of flowering plants ( angiosperms). Typically, they are structured in four circular levels, called whorls, around the end of a stalk. These whorls include: calyx, m ...

s, and clusters of small

grape A grape is a fruit, botanically a berry, of the deciduous woody vines of the flowering plant genus ''Vitis''. Grapes are a non- climacteric type of fruit, generally occurring in clusters. The cultivation of grapes began approximately 8,0 ...

-like

drupe In botany, a drupe (or stone fruit) is a type of fruit in which an outer fleshy part (exocarp, or skin, and mesocarp, or flesh) surrounds a single shell (the ''pip'' (UK), ''pit'' (US), ''stone'', or ''pyrena'') of hardened endocarp with a seed ...

s. The name, moonseed, comes from the shape of the

seed In botany, a seed is a plant structure containing an embryo and stored nutrients in a protective coat called a ''testa''. More generally, the term "seed" means anything that can be Sowing, sown, which may include seed and husk or tuber. Seeds ...

, which resembles a crescent

moon The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite. It Orbit of the Moon, orbits around Earth at Lunar distance, an average distance of (; about 30 times Earth diameter, Earth's diameter). The Moon rotation, rotates, with a rotation period (lunar ...

. The word ''Menispermum'' is derived from the

Greek Greek may refer to: Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor of all kno ...

words μήν (''mēn''), meaning (crescent) moon, and σπέρμα (''sperma'') meaning seed. The common name moonseed is also applied to some other species in the related genus ''

Cocculus ''Cocculus'' ''Sunset Western Garden Book'', 1995:606–607 is a genus of four species of woody vines and shrubs, native to tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and Asia. Species Four species are accepted: *'' Cocculus hirsutus'' (L.) Di ...

''.

Species

There are only two recognised

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

in the genus ''Menispermum'' these being : * ''

Menispermum canadense ''Menispermum canadense'', the Canadian moonseed, common moonseed, or yellow parilla, is a flowering plant in the family Menispermaceae, native to eastern North America, from southern Canada south to northern Florida, and from the Atlantic coast ...

'' L. – Canadian moonseed, Ghost grape (northeastern

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South Ameri ...

) * ''

Menispermum dauricum ''Menispermum'' (moonseed) is a small genus of deciduous climbing woody plants, woody vines in the moonseed family (Menispermaceae). Plants in this genus have small dioecious flowers, and clusters of small grape-like drupes. The name, moonseed, c ...

'' DC. – Asian or

Dauria Dauriya (, also romanized as ''Dauriia'' or ''Dauria'') is a historical and geographical region of Russia spanning modern Buryatia, Zabaykalsky Krai and the Amur Region. The toponym is given according to the Daur people who inhabited the region ...

n moonseed, named for the homeland of the Daur, a Mongolic people inhabiting the part of

Northeast Asia Northeast Asia or Northeastern Asia is a geographical Subregion#Asia, subregion of Asia. Its northeastern landmass and islands are bounded by the Pacific Ocean, North Pacific Ocean. The term Northeast Asia was popularized during the 1930s by Ame ...

to which the plant is native. Common name in Chinese : 蝙蝠葛 ( bian fu ge ).

Formerly placed here

* ''

Anamirta cocculus ''Anamirta cocculus'' () is a Southeast Asian and Indian climbing plant. It is the source of picrotoxin, a poisonous compound with stimulant properties. The plant is large-stemmed (up to 10 cm in diameter); the bark is "corky gray" with wh ...

'' (L.) Wight & Arn. (as ''M. cocculus'' L.) * ''

Calycocarpum lyonii ''Calycocarpum'' (cupseed) is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the family Menispermaceae. The only species currently accepted is ''Calycocarpum lyonii'' endemic to the southeastern United States. ''Calycocarpum lyonii'' has been reported ...

'' (Pursh) A.Gray (as ''M. lyonii'' Pursh) * ''

Cocculus carolinus ''Nephroia carolina'', commonly called the Carolina coralbead, snailseed, Carolina Moonseed, or Margil's Vine, is a perennial vine of the moonseed family (Menispermaceae). It is native to North America, where it is found in northeastern Mexico an ...

'' (L.) DC. (as ''M. carolinum'' L.) * ''

Cocculus hirsutus ''Cocculus hirsutus'' is a tropical flowering plant with the common name broom creeper or ''Patalgarudi'' (Sanskrit). It is native to South Asia, Southeast Asia, parts of East Asia, West Asia and tropical Africa Africa is the world's secon ...

'' (L.) Diels (as ''M. hirsutum'' L.) * ''

Cocculus orbiculatus ''Nephroia orbiculata'', the queen coralbead, is a species of woody vine A vine is any plant with a growth habit of trailing or scandent (that is, climbing) stems, lianas, or runners. The word ''vine'' can also refer to such stems or runn ...

'' (L.) DC. (as ''M. trilobum'' Thunb.) * ''

Jateorhiza palmata ''Jateorhiza palmata'' (calumba) is a perennial climbing plant from East Africa. It contains isoquinoline alkaloids and is used mainly as a bitter tonic especially in cases of anorexia nervosa. It contains no tannins, hence it can be safely used ...

'' (Lam.) Miers (as ''M. columba'' Roxb. or ''M. palmatum'' Lam.) * '' Pericampylus glaucus'' (Lam.) Merr. (as ''M. glaucum'' Lam.) * ''

Sinomenium acutum ''Sinomenium'' is a genus of plant in family Menispermaceae first described as a genus in 1910. It contains only one known species, ''Sinomenium acutum'', native to China, northern India, Nepal, Japan, northern Thailand Thailand, officia ...

'' (Thunb.) Rehder & E.H.Wilson (as ''M. acutum'' Thunb.) * ''

Tinospora cordifolia ''Tinospora cordifolia'', the heart-leaved moonseed, is a herbaceous vine of the family Menispermaceae native to South and Southeast Asia. It has been used in Ayurveda in an attempt to treat various disorders. There is no good evidence ''Tinospo ...

'' (Willd.) Hook.f. & Thomson (as ''M. cordifolium'' Willd.) * ''

Tinospora crispa ''Tinospora'' is a genus of flowering plants. Its species have a succulent, woody, climbing shrub habit. Thirty-four species are currently recognized. Species generally send down long aerial roots from host trees. They have corky or papery bark. ...

'' (L.) Hook. f. & Thomson (as ''M. crispum'' L.)

Toxicity

All parts of these plants are known to be

poisonous A poison is any chemical substance that is harmful or lethal to living organisms. The term is used in a wide range of scientific fields and industries, where it is often specifically defined. It may also be applied colloquially or figurati ...

, containing

dauricine Dauricine is a plant metabolite, chemically classified as a phenol, an aromatic ether, and an isoquinoline alkaloid. It has been isolated from the Asian vine Menispermum ''dauricum'', commonly known as Asian moonseed, and the North American vine Me ...

and related

isoquinoline Isoquinoline is an individual chemical specimen - a heterocyclic aromatic organic compound - as well as the name of a family of many thousands of natural plant alkaloids, any one of which might be referred to as "an isoquinoline". It is a struc ...

alkaloid Alkaloids are a broad class of natural product, naturally occurring organic compounds that contain at least one nitrogen atom. Some synthetic compounds of similar structure may also be termed alkaloids. Alkaloids are produced by a large varie ...

s, and children have died from eating the fruits. Dauricine inhibits cardiac K+ channels thus causing arrhythmia. Other symptoms caused by consumption of the grape-like fruits include excitation of the CNS, leading to seizures and neuromuscular arrest.Wink, Michael and Van Wyk, Ben-Erik ''Mind-Altering and Poisonous Plants of the World : A Scientifically Accurate Guide to 1,200 Toxic and Intoxicating Plants'' pub. Timber Press 2008 First aid in cases of Menispermum poisoning involves the induction of vomiting, followed by the administration of medicinal charcoal and sodium sulphate. Clinical therapy : gastric lavage ( possibly with 0.1% potassium permanganate ) instillation of medicinal charcoal and sodium sulphate; electrolyte substitution, control of acidosis with sodium bicarbonate ( pH of urine 7.5 ). In case of spasms, intravenous administration of diazepam. Provision of intubation and oxygen respiration in case of respiratory arrest or paralysis. Checking of diuresis and kidney function.

Medicinal Use

''Menispermum dauricum'' has been used to treat skin disorders, rheumatism, and cervical cancer. ''

'' has been used in herbal medicine as a tonic,

laxative Laxatives, purgatives, or aperients are substances that loosen stools and increase bowel movements. They are used to treat and prevent constipation. Laxatives vary as to how they work and the side effects they may have. Certain stimulant, lubri ...

dermatological Dermatology is the branch of medicine dealing with the skin.''Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary.'' Random House, Inc. 2001. Page 537. . It is a speciality with both medical and surgical aspects. A dermatologist is a specialist medic ...

aid,

venereal Human sexual activity, human sexual practice or human sexual behaviour is the manner in which humans experience and express their sexuality. People engage in a variety of sexual acts, ranging from activities done alone (e.g., masturbation) t ...

aid, and

diuretic A diuretic () is any substance that promotes diuresis, the increased production of urine. This includes forced diuresis. A diuretic tablet is sometimes colloquially called a water tablet. There are several categories of diuretics. All diuretics ...

.Dr. Duke's Database of USDA GRIN Taxonomy: Canadian Moonseed
/ref>

Yellow Medicine County Yellow Medicine County is a County (United States), county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. Its eastern border is formed by the Minnesota River. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 9,528. ...

Minnesota Minnesota ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to the north and east and by the U.S. states of Wisconsin to the east, Iowa to the so ...

is named after one of this plant's common names. Plants of this species are sometimes grown as ornamentals in

garden A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the cultivation, display, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. The single feature identifying even the wildest wild garden is ''control''. The garden can incorporate bot ...

s. Gardeners can propagate this plant from the division of runners or by seed.

Gallery

File:Menispermum canadense, 2015-06-02, Frick Park, 02.jpg, ''Menispermum canadense'' in flower, Frick Park, Pittsburgh File:Menispermum dauricum (Menispermaceae) (35798833585).jpg, ''Menispermum dauricum'' in flower, Primorsky Krai, Russian Far East Image:Menispermum canadense BB-1913.png, ''Menispermum canadense'' from Britton & Brown 1913

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1944342 Menispermaceae Menispermaceae genera