102 Class V, Order II. 



lanceolate. Corolla green and red, reflexed quite back. Nec- 

 taries red, truncated obliquely inward, and cleft with an ob- 

 lique ridge on each side the fissure, the horns moderately in- 

 curved. Mass of anthers cylindrical with black corpuscles at the 

 top of the wings, each of which draws out a pair of yellow obo- 

 vate pollen masses. Pods or follicles, oblong, acute, covered 

 with soft spinous projections. They contain large quantities of 

 a fine silken down attached to the seeds, for which the plant has 

 been cultivated in Europe and America. It is used as a substi- 

 tute for feathers, fur, cotton, &,c. July. Perennial. 



ASCLEPIAS OBTUSIFOLIA. Mich. Blunt Itaved Silk weed. 

 Leaves closely sessile, oblong, obtuse, waved ; um- 

 bel terminal, on a long peduncle ; corollas smooth. 

 Mich. abr. 



Leaves opposite, ovate, heart shaped at base, sessile, apparent- 

 ly clasping, very much waved on the margin, obtuse at the end, 

 mucronated. Stem erect, supporting a terminal umbel at a dis- 

 tance from the leaves. The flowers are larger than in any spe- 

 cies here described. Calyx leaves ovate, acute, a quarter as 

 long as the petals. Corolla spreading, afterwards reflexed, 

 greenish white tinged with red. Nectaries paler, large, cylin- 

 drical, obliquely truncated inward, cleft inside, with acute in- 

 curved horns rising from their centres. Mass of anthers more 

 cylindrical than in some other species, its summit discoid, um- 

 bilicate, with five rounded teeth. Pollen masses resembling 

 those in A. phytolaccoides. Cambridge, Sweet Auburn. July. 

 Perennial. 



ASCLEPIAS PHYTOLACCOIDES. Pursh. Poke leaved Silk weed. 

 Stem erect, simple ; leaves ovate, acute ; umbels 

 lateral, on long stalks, nodding ; nectaries truncated 

 obliquely outward. 



Sljll. JlsCLEPlAS EXALTATA. Muhl. 



A tall, large flowering species, more delicate in its appearance 

 than A. Syriaca. Stem erect, slender, smooth, four or five feet 

 high. Leaves large, opposite, on short petioles, ovate-lanceo- 

 late, acute, smooth above, pale and slightly pubescent under- 



