MILKWEED FAMILY 177 



mandas, trachelospermum, thevetia, tabernaemontana, and 

 carissa. A poisonous principle is generally present in the 

 dogbane family, as the termination, bane, indicates. The 

 virulent ordeal poison of Madagascar is obtained from 

 certain species, and in Europe the blue periwinkle, which 

 is often planted in our northern states, has such sug- 

 gestive names as violette des sorciers, and flower of death. 

 The milky sap of several African species forms caout- 

 chouc when evaporated, and that of a few non-poisonous 

 South American species is used as food. 



Amsonia ciliata. Flowers white, about I/2 in. across, in 

 terminal panicles. Calyx and corolla 5-lobed, stamens 5. 

 Seedpods 3-6 in. long. Stems 1-3 ft. tall, branched. Leaves 

 alternate, many, narrow, 1-3 in. long. Dry soil. Blooming 

 from late winter to fall. Fla. to N. C, Texas, and Ark. 



Rhabdadenia biflora. Twining vine, stems long. Leaves 

 opposite, thick, oval or narrow, 2-5 in. long. Flowers white, 

 about 2 in. long, from leaf-axils. Seedpods slender, 5-6 in. 

 long. Wet places near the coast. Southern peninsula Fla. 



Rhabdadenia coraUicola. Stems erect or spreading, 1-4 ft. 

 long. Leaves 1 in. long or less, margins recurved. Flowers 

 yellow, 1 in. long. Pods 3-4 in. long. Pinelands. Southern 

 peninsula Fla. 



Echites umbellata. Twining vine. Leaves oval or broadest 

 near base, 1-3 in. long, margins strongly recurved. Flowers 

 white or greenish, 2 in. long, in axillary clusters. Pods 6-8 

 in. long. Sandy soil. Southern peninsula Fla. 



MILKWEED FAMILY {AscUpmdaceae) 



Herbaceous plants or vines. Sap milky. Flowers small, 5- 

 parted, in umbels. Seeds flat, generally tipped with silky hairs. 



Milkweed. Silkweed (Several genera) 



Milkweeds are as remarkable as orchids in utilizing 

 insect visitors to carry pollen from flower to flower. Few 



