APOCYNACEJE, 807 



connivent, cohering to the stigma by the middle; ovaries 2; 

 stigmas connate; follicles long, sublinear, distinct. 



Gr. uTrn, away, x-vaiv, dog ; Pliny says this plant is fatal to dogs. Herbs or 

 shrubs (the northern species herbs). Fls. in cymes or panicles, terminal and 

 axillary. Cor. white or flesh-color, divided into 5 short, spreading or revo- 

 lute lobes. 



1. A. andros^mifo'lium. 



Smooth; leaves ovate; cymes lateral and terminal; livih of the corolla 

 spreading, the tube longer than the calyx. A smooth, elegant plant, 3 feet 

 high, in hedges and borders of fields. Stem reddened by the sun, erect, 

 branching above. Leaves dark green above, paler beneath, opposite, rounded 

 at base and acute at apex, 2 — 3 inches long and i| as wide, on petioles i inch 

 long. Cymes paniculate, at the top of the branches and in the axils of the 

 upper leaves. Pedicels ^ inch long. Calyx much shorter than the corolla. 

 Corolla as long as the pedicels, bell-shaped, while, striped with red, with 5, 

 acute, spreading segments. Medicinal. June, July. Per. Dug's-hane. 



2. A. CANNABl'iNUM. 



Smooth ; leui-es lanceolate, acute, paler beneath ; segments of the corolla 

 erect, the tube scarcely longer than the calj'X. A species with narrower leaves 

 and smaller flowers, found in low shades and hedges. Stem 2 feet high, 

 generally dividing above into long, slender branches. Leaves 2 — 3 inches 

 long, J- as wide, opposite, on petioles 2 lines long, and, when young, downy 

 beneath. Cymes terminal, with linear bracts. Flowers about half as long as 

 those of the last species. Sepals lanceolate, acute. Corolla while, with straight, 

 obtuse segments. The fibres of the bark are strong and pliable, said to be 

 used by the Indians in various vv'ays as hemp. Jl., Aug. Per. Indian Hemp. 



3. A. pube'scens. 



Lcapcs ovate-lanceolate, hoary-pubescent beneath ; cymes pubescent, with 

 minute bracts ; tube of the corolla longer than the calyx, with erect segments. 

 In thickets and hedges. This species is most readily distinguished by its 

 tomenlose pubescence and its smaller, greenish flowers Stem erect, with a 

 k\v, suberect branches. Leaves opposite, 2 — 3 inches long, 2 fifths as wide, 

 rather acute at base, tapering above into a mucronale point, and on stalks 

 2 lines long. Cymes terminal and axillary, few-flowered. July. Per. 

 Distinct .'' Pubescent Indian Hemp. 



4. A. hypericifo'lium. 



Smooth ; leaves oblong, on very short petioles, obtuse or subcordate at base, 

 mucronale ; cymes terminal, shorter than the leaves; calyx nearly as long as 

 the tube of the corolla. Gravelly banks of streams. Stem erect, 2 feet liigh, 

 with opposite branches. Leaves 2 — 4 inches long, ^ as wide, lower ones often 

 sessile and cordate, smooth both sides but paler beneath. Flowers very 

 small, in dense cymes at the ends of the stems and branches. Sepals lance- 

 linear, about as long as the tube of the greenish white, erect corolla. Aug. 

 Per. St. John s-wort-leaved Dug'sbane, 



2. VINCA. 

 Corolla hypocraleriform, contorted, border S-cleft, wilh the 

 lobes ol)liqiie, orifice 5-angled ; 2 glands at the base of tlie 

 ovary; capsule follicular, erect, fusiform; seed oblong. 



Lat. vincvlum, a band ; from the long twining branches ; hence probably 

 Anglo-Saxon^'eMCJKCejaadEng periwinlda. Trailing shrubs. Lvs. evergreen. 



