314 LXXXV. ASCLEPIADEZ (BROWN). [ Asclepias, 
I am quite unable to retain Gomphocarpus as generically distinct from Aselepias ; 
they have been united by Baillon (Histoire des Plantes, x. 225), and likewise by 
Schlechter (Journal of Botany, 1895, 334). The only distinctive character assigned 
to these two genera is the presence of a horn or other appendage within the cucullate 
or folded part of the coronal-lobes in Asclepias, and its absence in Gomphocarpus, 
but this proves to be an untenable character, and if used as a generic distinction 
would place species that are evidently most closely related to each other into different 
genera, as, for example, 4. tenuifolia, N. E. Br, and A. filiformis, Benth. & Hook. 
f., A. angustata, N. E, Br. and A. macrantha, Hochst. ; whilst in 4. coccinea, 
N. E. Br., the horn is well developed in some specimens and entirely absent in 
others, thus requiring to be placed in bth genera. The same variation occurs 
in the genera Margaretta, Schizoglossum and Cynanchum, some species having the 
tooth or process (which corresponds to the horn of Asclepias) present, whilst in 
others it is entirely absent, thus fully demonstrating that this character is of no 
generic value. The genus Stathmostelma proposed by K. Schumann for those 
species having broad caudicles, also appears to me to be quite untenable, as I find a 
gradual series of variations from the short and slender up to the long and broad 
caudicles, the two extremes being very different, but I consider them to be only of 
specific value. I have refrained from describing the pollen apparatus in the follow- 
ing pages, for, being complicated, details concerning them, however concise, would 
lengthen the descriptions considerably and serve no useful purpose. 
*Leaves never more than 5 times as long as broad, 
usually much less, {4 in. broad, oblong, ovate, 
ovate-lanceolate or lanceolate, never linear. 
tLeaves cordate, subhastate or obtuse at the base. 
Umbel solitary, terminal, dense, 25-30-flowered . 1. A. densiflora, 
Umbels 2—-many to a stem, racemosely arranged 
along its upper part or corymbosely clustered 
at its top, very rarely (in weak specimens) 
solitary and then not strictly terminal. 
Peduncles and pedicels glabrous; leaves sessile 
or subsessile, cordate at the base, gla- 
brous. 
Leaves elliptic-ovate, obtuse or broadly sub- 
acute . c ; : : . 2. A. semiamplectens. 
Leaves elongate-ovate or ovate-lanceolate, 
tapering to an acute jWaypiag 3 res here glaucophylla. 
Peduncles and pedicels pubescent or subtomen- 
tose; leaves distinctly but sometimes shortly 
petiolate. 
Pubescence rust-coloured or deep tawny ; 
coronal-lobes subquadrate, solid, with a 
split beak . : i : A . 4, A. fulva. 
Pubescence not rust-coloured nor tawny. 
Coronal-lobes with a papillate line decurrent 
from each side tooth and a crested 
appendage within ; corolla-lobes 4 in. 
long 5 c : : : . 9. A. odorata. 
Coronal-lobes with a simple horn or appen- 
dage within the cavity, no decurrent 
papillate lines; corolla-lobes 3-3 in. 
long, red. 
Sepals 2-23 lin. long; staminal-coluwn 
2 lin. long. . ; ‘ : . 10. A. pachyclada. 
