APOCYNACE^. 306 APOCYNUM, 



smooth; glands from the base of the petals, stipitate; cnlyx shorter than the 

 capsule ; serds niuricate. A curious aquatic, in ponds and lakes. The stems 

 are 1 , 2 or 3 feet long, according to the depth of the water, bearing at the top 

 three kinds of organs; the summit is prolonged into a petiole bearing a leaf 

 about an inch in diameter, resembling that of Nymphsea; on the uppei side is 

 an umbel of small white flowers, blossoming successively at the surface of the 

 water, and beneath, a cluster of short, simple, tuberous radicles, each of which 

 is capable of producing a new plant. July. Luke-Jiower. 



8. MENYA'NTIIES. 

 Calyx 5-partecI ; corolla funnel-form, limb spreading, 5-lob- 

 ed, villous within; stamens 5 ; style I ; stigma bitid; capsule 

 1-celled. 



Gr. |K.r)!'»), a month, and avSoj, a flower ; in allusion to its supposed property 

 as an emenagogue. 



M. trifolia'ta. 



Leaves trifoliate. Grows in swamps, margins of ponds, &c. This fine 

 plant arises from large, black roots descending deep into the boggy earth. 

 Stem 8 — 12 inches high, round. Leaves on long, round footstalks stipuledat 

 base. Leaflets obovate. Peduncle long, naked, terminal, bearing a pyramidal 

 raceme of flesh-colored flowers. Pedicels thick, bracteate at base. Sepals 

 obtuse, about a third as long as the corolla. Petals acute, about as long as the 

 stamens. Bitter herbs, actively medicinal. Sometimes substituted for hops. 

 May. Per. Buck-bean. 



ORDER cm. APOCYNACE J:. The Dogs-bane Tribe. 



Gal. — Sepals 5, united at base, persistent. 



Cfw.— 5-lol)ec1, regular, twisted in restivation, decirltious. 



Sta. — 5, ari^i^2; from tlie corolla and alternate with its segments. 



PiV.— Distinct. Anlhers2-cfi\\tCi, opening lengthwise, sometimes slightly connected. 



Pollen granular, globose or 5-lobert, immediately applied to the stigma. 



Ova. — -2, distinct or rarely united. Styles AisnncX ox united. Sti^io.s united into 1 which 



iiV._Follicles 2, rarely one of them abortive. [is common to boih styles. 



^/,5. — Numerous, pendulous, with or without a coma, albuminous. Embryo Ibliaceous. 



Trees, shrubs and herbs, with a milky juice. Leaves opposite, entire, without stipules. 

 They are chiefly natives of the torrid zone. 



Properties. These plants possess active and often suspicious qualities residing in the 

 white juice with which the order is pervaded, and in the seeds which are often deadly 

 poisons. The alkaloid, strychnine or stridinia, one of the most violent of poisons, is the 

 active principle of the seeds of the Strychnos Nux-vomica of India. It is sometimes 

 administered as a medicine, but with doubtful success. S. Tieutc of .lava is one kind of 

 Vpas. Cerbera Tinighiii, a tree of Madagascar, is powcrl'ully poisonous, a single seed 

 being sufTicieiit to destroy twenty persons". The Apocynem are emetic, and becoming 

 highly valued in hyilrocephalus, &c. The juice contains caoutchouc in small quantities, 

 but in Sumatra this is obtained largely from the juice of Urceokielaslica. 



Conspectus of the Genera. 



S herbaceous. Corolla campanulate Apocynum. 1 

 shruiiby, trailing, evergreen Vinca. 2 



arborescent, evergreen, erect Neiium. 3 



1. APO'CYNUM. 

 Calyx very small ; corolla campanulate, lobes short; sta- 

 mens included; filaments short, arising from the base of the 

 corolla, and alternate with 5 glandular teeth ; anthers sagittate, 



