Asclepias. pentandria digynia. 49 



ter than the tube of the corol. Corol ; tube gibbous, 

 outwardly ruj^ose, otherwise smooth, particularly within. 

 Border of five, obliquely linear-oblong, revolute mar- 

 gined, spreading segments, which are at least twice the 

 length of the tube. Their length and narrowness, and 

 want of fragrance are the most obvious marks by which 

 to distinguish tliis species from A. odoratissima. 



Genitalia oval, just the length of the tube of the corol. 

 Common stigma oblong, and almost entirely hid by the 

 inner lamina of the nectary. Follicles lanceolate, smooth. 



23. A. laurifolia. R. 



Twining. Leaves petioled, oblong, polished. Panicles 

 axillary, round, crowded. Corols subrotate ; genitalia 

 round-oval. Follicles slender, diverging horizontally. 



A native of Chittagong, Tippera and the mountainous 

 countries east of Bengal. Flowering time in the Bota- 

 nic garden at Calcutta, the rainy season ; the seeds are 

 ripe in March. 



Stem and branches shrubby, twining to a great extent. 

 Bark brown, and every part replete with a milky juice 

 which exudes from fresh wounds. Leaves opposite, pe- 

 tioled, oblong, entire, some obtusely cuspidate, some e- 

 marginate, of a firm, somewhat fleshy texture, polished 

 on both sides; a range of dark coloured points where 

 joined to the petiole ; length from two to six inches, and 

 one or two broad. Petioles one-fourth the length of 

 the leaves round and smooth. Panicles laterifolius, soli- 

 tary, globular, crowded, much shorter than the leaves. 

 Peduncles about as long as the petioles, round, villous, 

 with short, ferruginous hairs. Pedicels shorter but simi- 

 lar. Bractes minute, triangular. Flowers numerous, very 

 small, pale yellow. Calyx five-toothed. Corol sub-rotate ; 

 divisions of the border obliquely-oblong, hairy on the in- 

 side ; their margins meet only, and are not contorted as 

 in most species of this natural order. 



