ASCLEPIADACEAE 937 



8-11 mm. long, acuminate : corolla yellow ; the campanulate throat over 2 cm. long : an- 

 thers with a linear-filiform appendage at the apex: follicles incurved, 12-15 cm. long: 

 seeds with the lower part of the beak naked. [Echites Andrewsii Chapm.] 



In sandy or rich thickets, southern peninsular Florida and the Keys 



2. Urechites neridndra (Griseb. ) Small. Similar to U. Andrevsii, but more pubes- 

 cent, sometimes hirsute : leaf-blades relatively narrower, often oblong : corolla yellow, 

 the cylindric throat often less than 2 cm. long, more hairy, much longer than the limb. 



In thickets, peninsular Florida and the Keys. Also in the West Indies. 



9. RHABDADENIA Muell. Arg. 



Vines, similar to JTrechites in habit. Calyx lacking the scale-like glands at the base 



within, or these obsolete : lobes relatively broad and short. Corolla-tube usually gradually 



dilated into the funnelform throat. Carpels and follicles as in Urechites. 



Corolla yellow, less than 3 cm. long ; limb K as long as the throat : calyx-lobes acuminate. 



^^ 1. R. Sagraei. 



Corolla white, over 4 cm. long ; limb about as long as the throat : calyx-lobes acute. 2. E. biflora. 



1. Rhabdadenia Sdgraei (A. DC.) Muell. Arg. Similar to R. bifiora in habit, but 

 smaller. Leaf-blades 1.5-2.5 cm. long, revolute : cymes several-flowered: peduncles 

 longer than the leaves : calyx-lobes subulate above an ovate base : corolla yellow, the throat 

 1-L5 cm. long ; lobes about i as long as the throat: follicles slender, 8-12 cm. long: 

 seed with the beak plumose to the base. lEchites S(tf/raei A. DC] 



In sandy thickets, Pine Key. Florida. Also in the West Indies. 



2. Rhabdadenia biflora (Jacq. ) Muell. Arg. Stems greatly elongated, often very 

 woody, branched, twining or floating : leaf-blades leathery, oblong, or oblong-lanceolate, 

 4-9 cm. long, apiculate, glabrous, sliort-petioled : cymes 1-3-flowered : calyx-lobes oblong 

 or nearly so, 5-6 mm. long, merely acute : corolla white, the throat campanulate ; lobes 

 about as long as the throat : follicles slender, 12-15 cm. long. [Echites pal udosa A. DC] 



On muddy shores, southern peninsular Florida and the Keys. Also in the West Indies. 



10. ECHITES P. Br. 



TAvining vines, with somewhat woody stems. Leaves opposite : blades flat, entire. 

 Flowers in terminal or axillary cymes. Calyx-lobes 5. Corolla relatively large, salver- 

 form, the tube cylindric, but abruptly somewhat swollen. Stamens included : anthers 

 appendaged at thebase. Carpels 2. Ovules numerous. Follicles 2, spreading at maturity. 



1. Echites umbellata Jacq. Stems widely twining : leaf-blades leathery, ovate to 

 oval, 4-9 cm. long, short-pointed, truncate or cordate at the base, more or less involutely 

 folded and recurved : cymes several-flowered : calyx-lobes triangular, 2.5-3.5 mm. long : 

 corolla white or greenish white ; tube 5-6 cm. long, swollen about the middle ; lobes 1.5- 

 2.5 cm. long, rounded: follicles 15-20 cm. long. 



In sandy soil, southern peninsular Florida and the Keys. Also in the West Indies. 



11. TRACHELOSPE'rMUM Lemaire. 



Vines, with woody stems or sometimes nearly erect shrubs. Leaves opposite : blades 

 entire. Flowers relatively small, in compound cymes. Sepals narrow, glandular within. 

 Corolla funnelform or salverform : tube slightly dilated above : lobes 5. Stamens mainly 

 included : anthers sagittate, converging about the stigma. Disk 5-lobed. Carpels 2, 

 united by the somewhat thickened styles. Stigmas ovoid or glolmlar. Ovules numerous. 

 Follicles 2 together, much elongated. Seeds many, each tipped with a long coma. 



1. Tracheloapermum difforme (Walt. ) A. Gray. Stems 3-5 m. long, twining, more 



or less pubescent when young : leaf-blades ovate or oval to ellii^tic or lanceolate, rather 



thin, 3.5-9 cm. long, acuminate, sometimes abruptly so, paler beneath than above, short- 



petioled ; cymes several-flowered : calyx-lobes lanceolate-subulate, 3-3.5 cm. long : corolla 



greenish ; tube 5-6 mm. long with a prominently swollen throat ; lobes ovate, shorter than 



the tube : follicles slender, 15-22 cm. long. 



In low grounds and on river banks, Delaware to Florida, Texas and Mexico, mostly near the coast. 

 Spring and summer. 



Family 2. ASCLEPIADACEAE Liudl.i Milkweed Family. 



Perennial herbs, vine or shrubs, mostly with milky jniee. Leaves alternate, 

 opposite or whorled, exstipulate. Flowers perfect, regular, mostly umbellately 



1 Contributed by Miss Anna Murray Vail. 



