362 ASCLEPIADACE.T,. (.MILKWEED FAMILY.) 



1. ASCLEPIAS, L. Mii.KWEF.D. Silk-nveed. 



Calyx 5-partcd. Corolla whccl-shapcd, deeply 5-partcd, reflcxcd. Crown 

 composed of 5 hooded leaves, each containing an incurved horn-like appendage. 

 Pollen-masses 10, by pairs, each pair occupying the contiguous cells of adjacent 

 anthers, and suspended by a slender stalk from the projecting angles of the stigma. 

 Follicle many-seeded. Seeds obovatc, flat, usually comose. — Perennial herbs, 

 with mostly simple (not twining) stems, and opposite alternate or whorled leaves. 

 Flowers in lateral (between the leaves) and terminal umbels. 



§ 1 . Stems herbaceous : seeds comose. 

 * Follicles spiny : leaves opposite. 



1. A. Cornuti, Decaisnc. Softly pubescent ; stem stout, erect, obscurely 

 4-angled ; leaves oval-oblong, short-petiolcd, mucronatc, soon smooth above, the 

 lowest somewhat cordate ; umbels numerous, many-flowered, long-pcdunclcd ; 

 corolla greenish-purple, one fourth as long as the pedicels ; leaves of the crown 

 pale purple, ovate, obtuse, longer than the incurved horn ; follicle ovate-oblong, 

 woolly, armed with soft spines. (A. Syriaca, L.) — Fields and road-sides, New 

 Berne, North Carolina, Croom, and northward. June and July. — Stem 3° -4° 

 high, sometimes branched. Leaves 4' - 8' long. Pedicels 1' - 1^-' long, purplish. 

 Corolla V wide. 



* * Follicles spineless. 

 ■*- Leaves opposite, oval or oblong, narrowed into a petiole. 



2* A. phytolaccoides, Pursh. Stem tall, smooth ; leaves ovate or 

 ovate-lanccolatc, tapering at each end, paler and minutely pubescent beneath, 

 membranaceous; umbels long-peduncled, many-flowered; pedicels filiform, 

 drooping, nearly as long as the peduncle; corolla pale greenish ; leaves of the 

 crown white, truncated, 2-toothed, shorter than the subulate incurved horn. — 

 Low grounds along the mountains, and northward. June and July. — Stem 3° - 

 50 high. Leaves 6'- 9' long. Pedicels 2' -3' long. 



3. A. purpurascens, L. Stem smooth ; leaves oratc-oblong, ncntf, 

 short-pctiokd, i)alcr and pubescent beneath; umbels 1 -2, terminal, peduncled, 

 many-flowered; pedicels half as long as the peduncle, aiul twice as long as the 

 dark purple corolla ; leaves of the crown oblong, abruptly contracted above, 

 twice as long as the incuiwed horn and nearly sessile gynostcgium. — Thickets 

 and borders of woods, Tennessee, North Carolina, and northward. June and 

 July. — Stem 2°-3° high.' Leaves 4'- 7' long. Pedicels 9" -15'' long, jiu- 

 besccnt. 



4. A. variegata, L. Stem stout, leafless below, pubescent in lines ; leaves 

 oval, oblong, or obovate, cuspidate, smooth on both sides ; umbels 3-5, pubes- 

 cent, closely flo\vcix.'d, the upper ones corymi)ose ; jKHlicels erect, as long as the 

 peduncle; corolla white ; leaves of the crown roundish, longer than the purplish 

 gynostcgium, cf|uaUingthc thick awl-pointed incurved horn. (A. nivea, I'ltrsh.) 

 — Dry open woods and borders of fields, Florida to Mississippi, and northward. 

 Mnv and June — Stem 2° - 3° high, purplish. Leaves ratlier thick, 2' -3' long. 

 PedunclcK 0" - 12" long. 



