ASCLEPIADACEiE. 309 ASCLEPIAS. 



antheridium (connate mass of anthers) 5-angled, truncate, 

 opening by 5 longitudinal fissures ; pollinia (masses of pollen) 

 5 distinct pairs: follicles 2, ventricose; seeds comose. 



Gr. name of Esculapius, the god of medicine and physicians. Herbs and 

 Bhrubs (the northern species herbs). Flowers in pedunculate, axillary and 

 terminal umbels. Cal. of 5, lanceolate, nearly distinct sepals, much shorter 

 than the cor. Pet. oblong-lanceolate. Corona adnate to the filaments at their 

 base, its leaflets erect, concave, fleshy, each mostly with an incurved, subu- 

 late tooth. Antheridium pyramidal, depressed, consisting ot the 5 anthers 

 consolidated around the pistil, separable at the winged angles. Anlh. 2-celled, 

 cells opening at the top, earh containing a waxy mass of pollen suspended by 

 a slender stipe, those of the adjacent cells of distinct anthers apparently 

 geminate. Ova. 2, enclosed in the tube of the corona, 1 of them mostly 

 abortive. Folhcles muricate or smooth. Seeds imbricate, compressed. 



* Leaves opposite. 



1. A. Syri'aca. 



Stem simple; leaves oblong-lanceolate, petiolate, gradually acute, tomentose 

 beneath ; umbels nodding ; segmtnts of the corona bidentate ; follicles muri- 

 cate. A coarse, very lactescent plant, common by roadsides, and in sandy- 

 fields. Stem 3—4 feet high, seldom branched. Leaves .5—8 inches long, 

 2—3 wide, tapering at both ends. Umbels several, axillary, subterminal, 

 dense, globose, each of 20 or more sweet-scented flowers. Calyx segments 

 lanceolate. Corolla pale-purple, refle.^ed, leaving the corona, which is of 

 nearly the same hue, quite conspicuous. But few of the flowers prove fertile, 

 producing oblong, pointed, rough pods or follicles, which contain a mass of 

 long silky fibres with seeds attached. Jl. Per. Syrian or Common Sillnceed. 



2. A. phytolaccoi'des. 



67fiOT erect, simple ; Zeai^es broad-ovate, acuminate, pale beneath, smooth, 

 petiolate ; vmbels lateral, on long peduncles, nodding ; segments of the cororia 

 truncate ; bidentate, horns exserted. A tall and elegant species, found in 

 low, shady grounds. Stem 4—5 feet high, smooth and slender. Leaves 

 acuminate at each end, (3 — 9 inches long and nearly half as wide. Ihnbels 

 near the top on lateral peduncles 4 — G inches long, and consisting each of about 

 10 large flowers, on pedicels about 2 inches in length. Petals green. Corona 

 flesli-colored, each segment truncate, with its inner margin 2-toothed, and 

 with a long, slender, incurved horn. Jn. Per. Poke-leaved Sdkweed. 



3. A. obtusifo'lia. 



Slrm erect, simple ; leaves amplexicaul, oblong, obtuse, undulate, very 

 smooth, glaucous beneath ; uwbel terminal, on a long peduncle, smooth ; 

 horns of the corona exsert. Stem 2—3 feet hijjh, bearing a single (rarely 2) 

 terminal umbel of 30— 40 large, reddish green flowers. Leaves much waved 

 on the margin, 4 — 5 inches long, and half as wide, with a broad, rounded, 

 mucronate apex. Corolla light purple. Corona nearly white, its segments 

 large, slightly 2-toothed. In shady grounds. Jl. Per. Blunt-leaved Siikwted. 



4. A. purpura'scens. 



S/fm simple; leaves ovate, villous beneath; umbels erect; horns of the 

 corowrt resupinate. In hedges and thickets, Charlestown, N. H., tSrc. Stern 

 3 feet or more high, simple or slightly branched at top. Leaves paler and 

 downy beneath, the midrib purple, smooth above. Flowers in terminal, erect 

 umbels. Calyx small, green Corolla dark purple, with reflexed segments. 

 Corona purple, twice as long as the antheridium, its horns abruptly bent in- 

 wards to a horizontal position and lying close upon it. Jl. Per. Pur [lie Sdkweed. 



