\ LXXXV. ASCLEPIADEZ (BROWN). 2338 
study, but they may be conveniently divided into primary groups in accordance 
with the character of the pollen, which it is always necessary to examine before any 
generic identification of an unknown plant of this Order can be made. The pollen 
is of 4 distinct types, as follows :—1. Granular and loosely contained in the more or 
less spathulate o: bifid pollen-carriers, not attached to the latter; this type 
characterises the tribe Periplocee. 2. United into very minute waxy masses, 
4 or 2 of which are sessile upon a very minute quadrate, pale-coloured pollen- 
carrier; this type characterises the tribe Secamonee. 3. United into waxy masses, 
which are opaque without a pellucid margin, usually not very minute, and are 
attached in pairs by caudicles to the dark-coloured pollen-carriers ; to this type 
belong the tribes Cynanchee with pendulous pollen-masses, and Marsdeniee with 
erect or horizontal pollen-masses. 4. United into waxy masses which are pellucid 
on one margin or at the apex, and attached in pairs by caudicles to the pollen- 
carriers ; to this type the tribes Ceropegiee and Stapeliee belong. 
In the following descriptions, the dimensions of the dried flowers I have ex- 
amined are always taken after having boiled them in water and will thus often be 
found to considerably exceed similar measurements made of them in a dried state, 
thus more nearly approaching the dimensions of the living flowers, Owing to their 
fleshy nature, the coronal-lobes, when subjected to much pressure, often have their 
original form quite altered if not totally destroyed ; this has led to much discrepancy 
i various descriptions of the same plant. In preparing the following descriptions 
I have therefore always selected flowers for examination (usually 3 or 4 from each 
Specimen when the material was sufficient,) that were saved from undue pressure by 
their proximity to the stem or other thick parts, such flowers always giving a better 
and more correct idea of the form of the coronl-lobes when alive than do flowers 
that have been badly pressed. In the measurements given, the length of the 
Coronal-lobes is always intended to include any horn or other appendages they may 
have, unless otherwise expressed or when such appendages are horizontal or reflexed. 
The term “conoid,” applied to the apical part of the style in some of the following 
descriptions, is used in the same sense as originally employed by Schott to describe 
the appendix of the spadix of many Aroids, where that organ is much elongated and 
slightly tapers from or near the base to an obtuse apex. 
_Tripe. I. Periplocese.— Filaments of the stamens free (see also Xysma- 
fobium barbigerum). Anthers triangular or oblong, their connectives produced 
beyond the cells into short terminal points (apiculate), ov into small dilated, mem- 
Tanous or somewhat fleshy appendages, connivent over the apex of the style and 
frequently connate at their tips. Pollen-contents of each anther-cell of numerous 
loose granules, each granule formed of 4 pollen-grains united in tetrads. Pollen- 
carriers spathulate, trumpet-shaped, or trowel-shaped, sometimes bipartite, horny, 
swemished with an adhesive gland at their base, not attached to the pollen-grains, 
ul holding them loosely in their concave upper part. 
Coronal-lobes none; flowers small, in dichotomous or 
trichotomous cymes . : : : : . 8, BASEONEMA, 
Coronal-lobes very minute, entirely adnate to tle 
staminal-filaments, easily overlooked; flowers very 
_ Small, crowded in small long-peduncled clusters 
Corona indistinct, annular, with 5 very sbort lobules 
adnate to the base of the stiminal-filaments ; 
: flowers moderately large in long lax panicles 
Coronal-lobes 5, distinct, entire, or 2-10-fid, entirely 
free or only adnate just at their base to the 
oa eieis tag alternating wth the corolla- 
ubes. 
1. GYMNOLEMA, 
4, BATESANTHUS. 
