APOCYNACEAE. 279 



Stamens as many as the lobes of the corolla and alter- 

 nate with them, inserted on the tube or throat; anthers 

 2-celled, longitudinally dehiscent; filaments filiform or 

 dilated at the base. Ovary superior, 1-celled or partly 

 2-celled; ovules numerous; style simple or none; stigma 

 entire or 2-lobed or 2-cleft. Capsule mostly dehiscent 

 by 2 valves. Seeds globose, angular or compressed; 

 endosperm copious; embryo small, straight. 



1. ERYTHRAEA Neck. Canchalagua. 



Herbs, mostly annual or biennial, with sessile or 

 amplexicaul leaves, and pink or yellow flowers in cymes 

 or spikes. Calyx tubular, 4-5-lobed or 4-5-divided, the 

 lobes narrow, keeled. Corolla salver-shaped, 4-5-lobed, 

 the lobes spreading, contorted, convolute in the bud. 

 Stamens 4-5, inserted on the base of the corolla-tube; 

 filaments short, filiform; anthers linear or oblong, 

 becoming spirally twisted. Ovary 1-celled, the placentae 

 sometimes intruded; style filiform; stigma 2-lobed. 

 Capsule oblong-ovoid or fusiform, 2-valved. Seed-coat 

 reticulated. 



1. E. venusta Gray. Simple and cymosely several-flowered at 

 the summit or corymbosely branched, 8-20 cm. high; leaves ovate to 

 oblong-lanceolate, 1-2 cm. long, obtusish; calyx-lobes very narrow- 

 to the base; corolla bright pink with a yellow center, the limb 2 cm. 

 broad, lobes oval or obovate; anthers oblong-linear; seed spherical. 



Frequent in interior valleys. May-June. 



Family 84. APOCYNACEAE. Dogbane Family. 



Perennial herbs or rarely shrubs, mostly with acrid 

 milky juice, simple oppOvsite or alternate exstipulate 

 leaves, and perfect regular cymose, solitary or paniculate 

 flowers. Calyx 5-parted, persistent, the lobes imbri- 

 cated in the bud. Corolla 5-parted, the lobes convolute 

 in the bud. Stamens as many as the lobes of the corolla 

 and alternate with them, inserted in the tube or throat; 

 anthers linear-oblong, sagittate, 2-celled. Ovar}^ su- 

 perior or its base adherent to the calyx, of 2 distinct 



