382 LXXXV. ASCLEPIADEX (BROWN). [ Pentatropis. 
semi-ovate, shortly acuminate. Staminal-column 14 lin. long, very 
shortly stipitate. Follicles 14 in. long, when flattened out nearly ? in. 
broad, elongate-ovate, acuminate, 2-nerved down the back. 
Nile Land. Somaliland : Ogaden and Webi, Robecchi-Bricchetti, 321, 333. 
25. OXYSTELMA, R. Br.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Pl. ii. 749. 
Calyx 5-partite. Corolla with a very short tube enclosing the base 
of the staminal-column, and a broad saucer-shaped limb 5-lobed to half- 
way down ; lobes deltoid, acute, valvate at the base and overlapping to 
the left at the apex in bud. Corona of 5 erect lanceolate-attenuate 
lobes, arising from the staminal-column, with a crumpled gibbosity 
at their base, which rests on truncate projections from the top 
of the filament-part of the staminal-column. Stamens arising from the 
base of the corolla-tube, united into a column around the ovary and 
style Anthers erect, terminated by a short inflexed membranous 
appendage. Pollen-masses pendulous, elongate-clavate, compressed, 
attached in pairs by their attenuated ends to the short ovoid pollen- 
carriers. Style pentagonal, truncate or slightly convex at the apex, 
not exceeding the anthers. Follicles often solitary, inflated or 
lanceolate, smooth. Seeds ovate, compressed, crowned with a tuft of 
hairs. 
. Species 2, one endemic, the other extending into India, Ceylon, Tonkin and 
ava. 
This very distinct genus appears to have been somewhat incorrectly under- 
stood. The authors of the Genera Plantarum have mistaken the very short densely 
pubescent corolla-tube for an outer corona, whilst other authors describe the 
follicles as winged. I do not find them to be so, but a somewhat wing-like 
appearance is sometimes produced by pressure in drying. The withered corolla 
sometimes persists at the base of the follicles, which are often solitary. 
Leaves never cordate at the base; follicles not inflated 1. O. esculentum. 
Leaves often cordate at the base; follicles much 
inflated é ‘ ‘ : : . 2. O. bornouense. 
_1. O. esculentum, 2. Br., var. Alpini, V. Z. Br. Stem twining, 
with a deciduous white tomentum on the tips of the young shoots, soon 
becoming glabrous. Leaves spreading ; petiole 24-4 lin. long; blade 
13-34 in. long, 3-5 lin, broad, linear or linear-lanceolate, acute, 
usually narrowed into the petiole, but sometimes rounded at the base, 
glabrous. Cymes pedunculate, subumbellately or racemosely 2-4- 
flowered, glabrous; peduncle 1-1} lin. long; pedicels }—} in. long, 
thickened at the apex. Sepals { in. long, ovate-lanceolate, acute. 
Corolla ? in. or more in diam., saucer-shaped, 5-lobed to half-way 
down, with the margins of the broadly deltoid acute lobes and the 
‘mouth and inside of the very short tube velvety pubescent, otherwise 
glabrous, white or pinkish, veined with purple at the base, whence 
purple rays extend to the sinuses between the lobes. Coronal-lobes 
24 lin. long, lanceolate or deltoid-acuminate, entire, bifid, or trifid 
the apex, gibbous and crumpled at the base. Style-apex slightly 
