.213 



occupy the dry and sterile places of that remarkable country. In tropical 

 India and New Holland, and in all the equinoctial parts of America, they all 

 abound. Two genera only are found in northern latitudes, one of which, 

 Asclepias, abounds in species, and is confined apparently to the eastern side 

 of North America; the other, Cynanchum, is remarkable for extending from 

 59° north latitude to 32° south latitude. 



Properties. The roots are generally acrid and stimulating, whence 

 some of them act as emetics, as Cyanchum toraentosum and Periploca eme- 

 tica ; others are diaphoretic and sudorific, as the purgative Asclepias decum- 

 bens, which has the singular property of exciting general perspiration without 

 increasing in any perceptible degree the heat of the body; it is constantly 

 used in Virginia against pleurisy. Dec. Their milk is usually acrid and 

 bitter, and is always to be suspected, although it probably participates in a 

 slight degree only in the poisonous qualities of that of Apocyneae, if we can 

 judge from the use of some species as articles of food. Asclepias lactifera is 

 said to yield so sweet and copious a milk, that the Indians use it for aliment; 

 and Pergularia edulis, Periploca esculenta, Asclepias aphylla and stipilacea, 

 are all reported to be eatable. Dec. The Cow Plant of Ceylon, or Kiria- 

 ghuna plant, Gymnema lactiferum, yields a milk of which the Cingalese 

 make use for food ; its leaves are also used when boiled. But very little is 

 known about the real qualities of such plants. The root and tender stalks 

 of Asclepias volubilis L. sicken and excite expectoration. Ainslie, 2. 155. 

 Asclepias tuberosa, or Butterfly weed, is a popular remedy in the United 

 States for a variety of disorders ; its properties seem to be those of a mild 

 cathartic, and of a certain diaphoretic attended with no inconsiderable ex- 

 pectorant effect. Barton, 1 . 244. The root of Diplolepis vomitoria has a 

 bitterish and somewhat nauseous taste. The Indian doctors prize it for its 

 expectorant and diaphoretic qualities. It possesses virtues somewhat similar 

 to. those of Ipecacuanha, and has been found an extremely useful medicine 

 in dysenteric complaints. Ainslie, 2. 84. A decoction of Asclepias curassa- 

 vica is said to be efficacious in gleets and ffuor albus. Lunan, 1.64. The 

 root and bark, and especially the inspissated milk, of Calotropis gigantea, 

 the Akund, Yercum, or Mudar plant of India, is a powerful alterative and 

 purgative; it is especially in cases of leprosy, elephantiasis, intestinal worms, 

 and venereal affections, that it has been found important. A variety of cases 

 are mentioned in books upon Indian medicine; and there seems no doubt that 

 this will form one of the most important of all the articles of the Materia 

 Medica. See, for information upon this point, Ainslie s Materia Medica, 

 1. 486.; Trayis. of the Med. Chir. Soc. vol. 10.; Edinb. Med. Chir. Trans. 

 1.414. 



Examples. Asclepias, Cynanchum, Stapelia, Pergularia, Gompho- 

 carpus, Caralluma. 



CXCVI. APOCYNE^. 



Apocyne^, Juss. Gen. 143. (1789) in part; R. Brown Prodr. Ado. (1810); Lindl. 



Synops. 176. (1829) CoNTonT.=E, Linn Stuychne.t:, Dec. Theorie, ed. 1. 



217. (1813). — ViNCE^,, Dec. and Dnhi/ Bot. Gall. 324. (1828), a § o/Apocyneap. 

 Strychnace.T', Blume Bijdr. 1018. (1826); Link Ilandb. 1. 439. (1829.) 



Diagnosis. Monopetalous dicotyledons, with a superior double ova- 

 rium, the apex of which is connected by a common simple stigma, regular 

 flowers, powdery pollen, and a contorted corolla. 



Anomalies. Corolla valvate in Gardneria. Leaves subalternate in 

 succulent species. 



