211 



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 expectorant 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 some- 

 what similar to those of Ipecacuanha, and has been found an extremely useful 

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

 curassavica is said to be efficacious in gleets and fluor 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 pur- 

 gative ; 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, JLinslie's Materia Medica, 1. 486. ; Trans, 

 of the Med. Chir. Soc. vol. 10. ; Edinb. Med. Chir. Trans. 1. 414. 



Examples. Asclepias, Cynanchum, Stapelia, Pergularia, Gomphocarpus, 

 Caralluma. 



CXCVI. APOCYNE.E. 



ApocynEjE, Juss. Gen. 143. (1789) in part; R. Brawn Prodr. 465. (1810); Lindl. Synops. 176. 

 (1829).— Contorts, Z/nm.— Strychneje, Dec. Theorie, ed. 1. 217. (1813).— Vinceje, Dec. 

 and Duby Bot. Gall. 324. (1828), a § of Apocyneae. Strychnaceje, Blume Bijdr. 1018. 

 (1826); LinkHandb. 1.439. (1829.) 



Diagnosis. Monopetalous dicotyledons, with a superior double ovarium, 

 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 succu- 

 lent species. 



Essential Character. — Calyx divided in 5, persistent. Corolla monopetalous, hypogy- 

 nous, regular, 5-lobed, with contorted aestivation, deciduous. Stamens 5, arising from the 

 corolla, with whose segments they are alternate. Filaments distinct. Anthers 2-celled, open- 

 ing lengthwise. Pollen granular, globose, or 3-lobed, immediately applied to the stigma. 

 Ovaria2, or 1 2-celled, polyspermous. Styles 2 or 1. Stigma 1. Fruit a follicle, capsule, or 

 drupe, or berry, double or single. Seeds with fleshy or cartilaginous albumen ; testa simple ; 

 embryo foliaceous; plumida inconspicuous ; radicle turned towards the hilum. — Trees or 

 shrubs, usually milky. Lcares opposite, sometimes whorlcd, seldom scattered, quite entire, 

 often having cilia? or glands upon the petioles, but with no stipulae. Inflorescence tending to 

 corymbose. 



Affinities. These are strongest with Asclepiadeae, in which they have 

 already been discussed ; otherwise they lie between Cinchonacere and Gentia- 

 neffi. From Cinchonacea? they are distinguished by their superior ovarium, 

 contorted flowers, and absence of stipula; ; in room of which are, however, 

 sometimes produced certain cilire, or other appendages of the petiole, which the 

 inexperienced observer may mistake for stipule. The same characters divide 

 them from Gentianere ; and I think the combination of these peculiarities is suf- 

 ficient to destroy all doubt about the limits of any of these orders. From Pota- 

 liese and Loganieae they are distinguished almost entirely by the perfect sym- 

 metry of the calyx, corolla, and stamens, and the want of true stipulae. 



