Tab. 4299 . 
MARSDENIA maculata. 
Spotted-leaved Marsdenia. 
Nat. Ord. AsclepiadEjE.—Pentandkia Digynia. 
Gen. Char. Calyx 5-partitus. Corolla subcampanulata, v. rotata, v. rarissime 
urceolata, 5-fida, laciniis patulis v. rarius reflexis contortis, tubo introrsum glabro, 
V. superne pilis inflexis instructo. Corona staminea 5-phylla, foliolis gynostegio 
insertis, simplicibus, ovatis v. infeme rotundatis et in acumen v. in ligulam 
linearem attenuatis. Antherm membrana terminate. Masses pollinis ovoidese, 
processu subdilatato affixse, ereetse. Stigma umbonatum muticum v. rostratum 
obscure bifidum. Folliculi laeves. Semina comosa.—SufFrutices in India orientali, 
Moluccis, Nova Hollandia, rarius in America tropical. ». Antdlis et in Enropa 
orient, crescentest, foliis oppositis, planis -, pedunculis interpetiolaribus •, floribus 
cymosis v. thyrsoideis. DC. 
Marsdenia macnlata ; volubilis glabra, foliis lato-eUipticis membranaceis acutis 
(rarius obtusis) maculatis basi cordatis, petiolis ad costae basin pulvinigeris, 
umbeUis densifloris subsessdibus, sepalis ovato-eUipticis subciliatis, corollas 
limbo ciliato, coronas stamineae foliolis ovatis cum antheris conlluentibus, 
stigraate subapiculato. 
This has been long cultivated in the stove of the Royal Gardens 
of Kew, as a new Asclepiadeous plant which had been sent 
by the late Mr. Lockhart of Trinidad, and we have received 
flowering plants from Messrs. Lucombe, Pince and Co., of the 
Exeter Nursery. In 1834 living plants were again transmitted to 
the Royal Gardens, by our Collector Mr. Purdie, from the plain of 
Santa Martha, New Grenada. It seems to be a true Marsdenia^ 
and is remarkable for its large foliage, spotted with pale yellow, 
somewhat hke the leaves of Aucuba Japonica, but with the spots 
more regular, more equi-distant, and less confluent. It is a great 
climber, and flowers readily in June: the flowers are of a dark 
purplish or liver colour, greenish when young, and thus the 
dense umbels have a mottled appearance. Their textime is 
rather fleshy, hke those of Hoya. 
Bescr. a strong climbing plant, nearly glabrous in every 
part. Stems and main branches as thick as as a swan s quill. 
Leaves opposite, large, petiolate, broadly elliptical, membrana¬ 
ceous, acute (rarely obtuse), the base cordate, the whole surface 
may 1st, 1817. 
