866 ASCLEPIADACE^. (mILKWEED FAMILY.) 



gium, witli tlicir rounded summits connivcnt over it. — Wet pine barrens, Florida 

 and Georgia. June and July. — Stem 1°- 2° high. Leaves 1'- 2' long, some 

 what fleshy. Corolla 8"- 10" wide. 



* * Leaves alternate. 



3. A. paniculata, Decaisnc. Closely pubescent ; stem angular, often 

 branching ; leaves oblong or lance-oblong, acute or obtuse at each end, short- 

 pctioled ; umbels corymbose, often compound ; corolla large, grccnisli, spread- 

 ing or nearly erect ; leaves of the crown oblong, obtuse, ascending, shorter than 

 the nearly sessile gynostcgium. (Podostignia viridis, A7/.) — Dry jiine barrens, 

 Florida to South Carolina. July. — Stem l°-lo°high, leafy to the summit. 

 Leaves 3' -4' long. Corolla 1' wide. 



4. A. longifolia, Ell. Pubescent ; stem terete ; leaves linear and lincar- 

 laneeolate, acute at each end, slightly pctiolcd, rough-margined, the lowest com- 

 monlv opposite, sometimes wliorled ; umbels ])ubesccnt, slcnder-pedunclcd, 

 many-flowered, alternate, opposite or wliorled; flowers small, pale purple; 

 corolla reflexed ; leaves of the crown deep purple, oval, shorter than the gy- 

 nostcgium, and adnatc to its stalk; follicle lanceolate, tomcntosc. (Asclepias 

 angustifolia, Michr. in part.) — Low pine barrens, Florida, and northward. 

 July. — Stem 1°-U° high. Leaves 3' - C long. Corolla 4" wide. 



3. PODOSTIGMA, Ell. 



Calyx 5-partcd. Corolla 5-partcd, with the lobes erect. Leaves of the crown 

 destitute of a horn, ascending, incurvcd-beakcd at the apex, united with the base 

 of the long and slender gynostegium. Stigma small, depressed. Seeds comose. 

 — A low pubescent simple-stemmed perennial herb, with opposite lanceolate 

 sessile leaves, and few-flowered umbels on lateral peduncles. 



1. P. pubescens, Ell. — Low pine barrens, Florida to North Carolina. 

 June - Oct. — Koot tuberous. Stem 6' -12' high. Leaves erect, l'-2' long. 

 Umbels of 4 - G orange-colored flowers. Corolla 4" - h" long, as long as the 

 pedicel, longer than the short i)cdunclc, the oblong lobes wavy on the margins. 

 Follicles lincar-lanecolate, tomcntosc, 4' -6' long, many-seeded. Seeds oval, 

 winged. 



4. METASTELMA, K. Brown. 



Calyx 5 parted. Corolla bell-sha])ed, the lobes mostly hoary pubescent within 

 Crown 5-leavcd, inserted on the base or on the summit of the gynostcgium. 

 Stigma flat. Follicles slender, smooth. Seeds comose. — 'J'wming shrul)s, with 

 smooth leaves. Umbels few-flowered. Flowers .small, white. 



1. M. Schlectendalii, Decaisnc. Branches pubescent; leaves oblong 

 or obovate, cu-piilato, lathcr acute at the base, on slender petioles ; peduncles 

 3-G-floweied, as long as the petiole, shorter than the pedicels; sepals obtuse, 

 ciliatc ; lol)es of the corolla ovate-lanceolate, incurved, densely pubescent within ; 

 leaves of the crown oblong, inserted on the summit of the slender gynostcgium, 

 a.s long as the stigma. — South Florida. — Leaves A' - l.V long, the margins rcv- 

 olute. Corolla 2" long. Gynostegium 5-wingcd ut the l)iise. 



