884 



ASCLEPIADACE.E ELLIOTIAN^. 



Stathmostelma pedunculatum K. Sch. I.e. (1894), 182. 



Uplands, Athi Plains, 5000-6000 ft., Dec, No. 6499. Dry 

 sandy soil, old lake, Bugauga Buddu, Febr., No. 7468. 



Besides these three species mentioned above, there are two more 

 numbers (No. 8155 and No. 8509) which undoubtedly belong to this 

 genus, but, owing to incomplete material, cannot be identified. 



ASCLEPIAS L. 



After having had a good opportunity of seeing that the characters 

 on which the genus Gomphocarpus was separated by R. Brown from 

 AscJepias cannot be any longer maintained as sufficient to keep the 

 two genera distinct, I feel compelled to follow the steps of Baillon 

 in uniting Gomphocarpus with Asclepias. 



Of the new Asclepias denticulata, which I have described below, 

 I have seen specimens which have the characteristic appendage of 

 Asclepias on the inner side of the corona-scales, as well as others 

 which, on account of the want of any appendage, would have to go 

 to Gowphocarpiis. Between these two extreme forms there was to be 

 found every intermediate stage in the size of the corona-appendage. 



I must confess that I have tried to avoid the union of two such 

 well-known and large genera, but I fail to see the slightest reason 

 for keeping them any longer separate. I therefore propose, although 

 against my own inclination, to unite them now, for a union is 

 unavoidable, and had better be executed before the sjiecies of 

 Gomphocarpus become more numerous than they are already. The 

 same view has been already expressed to me several times by Mr. 

 N. E. Brown. 



Asclepias denticulata Schltr., n. sp. Herba valida erecta, 

 virgata, subsimplex? vel ramosa ; caule stricto bifariam puberulo 

 vel tomentoso, basin versus glabrato, dense foliato ; foliis erecto- 

 patentibus patentibusve lineari-lanceolatis acutis, glabris, margini- 

 bus sfepius revolutis, basi in petiolum brevissimum angustatis, 

 8-14 cm. longis, medio fere 1-2 cm. latis; umbellis extra-axillaribus 

 alternantibus erecto-patentibus, ad 10-floris, pedunculo tereti villoso, 

 pedicellis filiformibus erecto-patentibus vel apice subnutantibus, 

 villosis, pedunculo paulo brevioribus, foliorum longitudinis dimidium 

 vix excedentibus ; floribus subrotatis niveis, c. 1"5 cm. diametienti- 

 bus; calycis segmeutis ovato-lanceolatis acutis, pilosis, qnam corolla 

 duplo brevioribus; corollse lobis ovato-oblongis obtusis utrinque 

 glabris, 0'7 cm. longis, medio 0*4 cm. latis, patenti-patulis; corona 

 foliolis erectis, quam gynostegio subduplo brevioribus, e basi breviter 

 unguiculata conduplicata cucullatis, apice tiamcatis, eroso-denticu- 

 latis, margine anteriore lobulo erecto apice denticulato coronam vix 

 excedente utrinque donatis, intus ligula vel lamella carnosula brevi 

 ornatis vel rarius nudis; antheris oblougis marginibns cartilagiueis 

 angustis basi acutis, appendice hyaliuo rotimdato brevi, apice inflexo, 

 marginibus loculornm ad medium usque excisis ; polliniis valde 

 compressis oblique anguste oblongis, caudiculis divaricatis brevibus 

 subfiliformibus, glandula minuta subrhomboidea. 



Kampala, Jan., No. 7310 ; Ruwenzori, west side valleys, Sem- 



