342 ASCLEPIADACEAE. 



4. METASTELMA R. Br. Mem. Wern. Soe. 1: 52. 1809. 



Slender perennial vines, with small opposite leaves, and small white or 

 greenish flowers in axillary cymes. Calyx-lobes 5, usually with a gland in each 

 sinus. Corolla subrotate or campanulate, rather deeply 5-lobed. Corona simple, 

 5-parted, its segments narrow. Pollinia waxy. Gynostegium sessile or stipitate. 

 Stigma flat. Follicles small, slender, smooth. [Greek ; referring to the parted 

 corona.] Fifty species or more, natives of tropical and subtropical America. 

 Type species: Cynanchum parviflorum Sw. 



Gynostegium long-stipitate. 1. If. Xorthropiae. 



Gynostegium sessile or subsessile. 



Corona longer than the gynostegium. 2. M. ha-matum, 



Corona as long as the gynostegium or shorter. 



Coiiolla-lobes papillose-pubescent or villous within. 

 Corolla-lobes papillose-pubescent within. 



Leaves ovate to oblong or lanceolate. 3. If. bahamense. 



Leaves oblanceolate to spatulate. 4. If. inaguense. 



Corolla-lobes villous within. 



Leaves linear to linear-oblong. 



Leaves elongated-linear, 1.5 mm. wide. 



Leaves linear to linear-oblong, 2-3 mm. wide. 5. If. UnearifoUum. 

 Leaves obovate to spatulate. 6. Af. barbutum. 



Corolla-lobes glabrous ; cymes long-peduncled ; corolla- 7. J/. Eggersii. 

 lobes acute ; leaves linear. 8. If. palustre. 



1. Metastelma Northropiae Sehltr. in Urban, Symb. Ant. 5: 468. 1908. 



A slender glabrous vine, 1-2 m. long. Leaves ovate to oblong or oblong- 

 lanceolate, 1.5-3 cm. long, acute at the apex, rounded or narrowed at the base, 

 the slender petiole 3-8 mm. long; cymes few-flowered, on peduncles about as 

 long as the petioles; calyx-lobes ovate, obtuse or aeutish; corolla about 5 mm. 

 long, 5-lobed, glabrous without, pubescent within, its lobes oblong, obtuse; 

 gynostegium long-stipitate; corona-segments linear, acute; follicles linear, 

 glabrous, 5-6 cm. long. 



White-lands, coppices and scrub-lands. Andres and Great Bahama to Cat 

 Island and Little San Salvador; Florida: Cuba. Referred by Mrs. Northrop to M. 

 bahamense Griseb., which it much resembles, except in its long-stipitate gynos- 

 tegium. NORTHROP'S METASTELMA. 



2. Metastelma hamatum Griseb. Cat. PL Cub. 173. 1866. 



A slender glabrous vine. Leaves ovate to oblong or linear, acute at the 

 apex, rounded or narrowed at the base, 1-2 cm. long, 2-7 mm. wide, the 

 petiole 2-6 mm. long; cymes few-flowered, short-peduncled ; calyx-lobes ovate, 

 obtuse or aeutish; corolla deeply 5-lobed, the lobes oblong-lanceolate, obtuse or 

 aeutish, puberulent within; corona-segments linear-lanceolate, about twice as 

 long as the sessile gynostegium. 



White-lands and rocky soil, Cat Cay, Little Inagua, Castle Island, Caicos Is- 

 lands, Grand Turk : Cuba. 



3. Metastelma bahamense Griseb. Cat. PI. Cub. 174. 1866. 



Metastelma. cubense Griseb. Fl. Br. W. I. 417. 1861. Not Dene. 1844. 



Epicion bahamense Small, Fl. Miami 149, 200. 1912. 



A slender glabrous vine, sometimes 3 m. long. Leaves oblong, ovate or 

 oblong-lanceolate, 1-3 cm. long, acute or mucronate at the apex, mostly 

 rounded at the base, the petiole 3-7 mm. long; cymes few-several-flowered, 

 short-peduncled; calyx-lobes oblong to ovate, aeutish or obtuse; corolla deeply 

 5-cleft, 3-5 mm. long, its lobes oblong, papillose-puberulent on the inner side; 

 corona-segments oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, about as long as the short- 

 stipitate gynostegium; follicles linear, 4-7 cm. long. 



Scrub-lands and white-lands, throughout the archipelago from Abaco and the 

 Berry Islands to Mariguana and the Anguilla Isles. Florida ; Cuba. 



Prof. Coker's doubtful record of M. brachijstephanum Griseb. probably refers to 

 this species ; his specimen is imperfect. Referred by Hitchcock to M. Schlcchtendahlii 

 Dene. BAHAMA METASTELMA. 



