274 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE BOTANY OF [ Asclepiadee. 
also from Silhet and Chirraponjee to Nepal, and from that to Mussooree and Simla, 
as well as in Cashmere, whence I have received a specimen of C. Dalhousie, found also 
in the two last-mentioned places: on the northern face of the Himalayas or in Kunawur, 
three or four species are found, as C. auriculatum, Kunawurense, and Roylei, with 
Holostemma Rheedii, at Turanda, which is in the valley of the Sutlej. 
The Asclepiadee, like their allies the Apocynee, abound in a milky juice, which is, 
however, less acrid in nature, as a greater proportion of the family are innocuous, some 
edible, several useful as medicines, and few known as poisons. - It is more than 
probable that Caoutchouc is contained in several, as Cynanchum ovalifolium, according 
to Dr. Wallich, (Asclep. Herb. No. 82) yields excellent Caoutchoue at Penang; the 
tenacity of some species may be owing to its presence, as of Marsdenia tenacissima, 
employed for bowstrings by the Mountaineers of Rajmahl; the fibre of this plant’ and of 
Urtica tenacissimd were the strongest Dr. Roxburgh ever met with. Another plant of this 
family, Orthanthera viminea, attaining a height of ten feet, is also remarkable for the 
length and tenacity of its fibres. This grows luxuriantly along the foot of the moun- 
tains, and its long, straight, leafless, slender, and wandlike stems, point it out as 
seemingly well suited for rope-making. Like the Apocynee here also some plants 
yield indigo of excellent quality, as Marsdenia tinctoria, found in Silhet; and as the 
plantation, like that of Wrightia tinctoria, has the advantage of being permanent, it 
might be well suited to some parts of India. Gymnema tingens is also used in dyeing. 
Of the innocuous plants may be mentioned the Stapelias of the Cape ; Gymnema 
(Asclépias) lactiferum is said in Ceylon to yield a mild and copious milk ; Sarcostemma 
brevistylum (Asclepias acida and aphylla, -Roxb.), a milky juice of an acid nature which 
is taken by the natives to quench their thirst. (Roxb.) Cattle eat the roots of Oxystelma 
esculentum; wild hogs those of Ceropegia bulbosa (Wight), and men every part. 
(Roxb.) So Pergularia edulis and Periploca esculenta are described as being edible ; 
as Asclepias stipitacea and spiralis are said by Forskal to be in Arabia. Owing, however, 
to the presence of an active principle, some of the species are employed in medicine, 
as Asclepias decumbens and tuberosa, for diaphoretics in America: so in India Zylophora 
(Asclepias, Roxb.) ashmatica has been considered an efficient substitute for Ipecacuanha, 
and an excellent remedy in dysentery. Hemidesmus indicus (Asclepias pseudosarsa 
Roxb.) is considered by the medical officers on the Coromondel Coast as an efficient 
substitute for Sarsaparilla in the cure of Syphilis, Scrophula, and cutaneous affections, 
while Secamone emetica (Periploca emetica, Retz.) probably contains a greater proportion 
of the acrid principle, as it is emetic in its action, as are Asclepias curassivica and 
_ Vincetoxicum, Cynanchum tomentosum, &c. Others, however, of the Asclepiadee act as 
purgatives, as Cynanchum Arghel, of which the leaves are employed to adulterate Senna; 
Cynanchum monspeliacum, said to yield French scammony (Fée), as Periploca Secamone 
(Secamone of Prosper Alpinus from the Swkmoonya of the Arabs), does that of Smyrna, 
Asclepias syriaca is’ acrid and caustic, and Periploca greca is described as being acrid 
and poisonous. : 
Valuable 
