478 LXXXV. ASCLEPIADEZ (BROWN). [ Caralluma. 
bifid, sometimes so deeply that the whole corona (inner and outer) 
appears to consist of 5 trifid lobes; inner coronal-lobes incumbent on 
the backs of the anthers and not longer than them, or produced into 
erect connivent or recurved tips, with or without a dorsal tooth or horn 
near or at their base, where they are dorsally connected with the outer 
corona. Staminal-column arising from the bottom of the corolla, short ; 
anthers horizontally inflexed or ascending, not appendaged. Pollen- 
masses horizontal or ascending, solitary in each anther-cell, pellucid 
along the inner margin or at the apex, attached to the pollen-carriers 
in pairs by short and rather slender caudicles; pollen-carriers with or 
without a wing-like expansion on each side, black or brown. Style not 
produced beyond the anthers, truncate at the apex. Follicles narrowly 
fusiform, linear-terete or trigonous, smooth. Seeds crowned with a tuft 
of hairs.—Succulent perennial herbs, branching, leafless. Stems 3-6- 
angled, thick and fleshy, obtusely tubercled or acutely toothed along the 
angles. Flowers in few or many-fiowered fascicles or sessile umbels at 
the base, apex, or along the sides of the stems between the angles, 
small or of moderate size, pedicellate or subsessile.—Piaranthus, Benth. 
et Hook. f. Gen. Pl. ii. 782, not of R. Br. Bowcerosia, W. & A.; 
Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. PI. ii. 782. 
Species numerous, distributed throughout Africa into the South of Europe, and 
through Arabia into India. 
The majority of species of Caralluma are easily recognised by their habit and 
by the outer corona being cupular or its lobes forming 5 small pouches. A few 
species, however, having the outer coronal-lobes nearly or quite free to the base, 
cannot be technically distinguished from Stapelia, but are so very similar in every 
other character to species having the typical coronal-structure of Caralluma that 
they cannot be generically separated from them. Yet it appears to me anadvisable 
to unite the two genera, since in the majority of cases it is easy to decide to which 
genus any given species should belong ; but where the coronal-structure is not clearly 
that of a typical Caralluma, both genera should be consulted. 
The dimensions of the corolla (unless otherwise stated) are given from flowers 
that have been swelled by boiling in water, but may not be quite as large as those of 
the living flowers. 
*Corolla-lobes 4—3 in. long, equalling or up to about 
twice as long as the basal united part 
+Flowers numerous, in large globose umbels or fas- 
cicles at the apex of the stem or its short lateral 
branches. 
Stems 4—5-angled. 
Corolla large, 13 in. in diam., campanulate ; 
tube about 9 lin. long and as much in 
breadth . é < : : < . I. C. speciosa. 
Coro\la 4-1} in. in diam. subrotate, or with 
a campanulate tube 13—4 lin. long. 
Corolla without a tuft of long hairs at the tips 
of the lobes, ciliate. 
Corolla 1} in, in diam., densely covered with 
persistent long hairs on the inner face 2. C. hirtiflora. 
Corolla 3—% in. in diam , glabrous or thinly 
covered with long hairs on the inner 
face, which easily fall away from the 
dried flowers. : ‘ ‘ . 3. C. retrospictens. 
