ASOLEPIADE. 425 
ASCLEPIADE. 
-* CRYPTOSTEGIA GRANDIFLORA, B;. 
) Big.—Bot. Keg, t. 435, Wight Ic., ¢. 882, and Thssitesite 
182, f. 9; Retchb. Ic. Fxot., t. 132. 
| ~ Hab.—Africa or Madagascar. It is cultivated and has 
run wild in various parts of India, 
‘ Vernacular.—Viliyati-vakhandi (Mar.), Palai (Mal, 3 
. - History, Uses, &c.—This ornamental climbing shrub. 
has been named Vilayati-vdkhandé, “ foreign Vakhandi,” by the 
_ Marathas from the resemblance of its foliage to that of 
 Gymnema sylvestre (V&khandi). 
_* Tt has attracted attention on account of a caoutchouc pre- 
se fared from its milky juice at the botanic garden, Hyderabad, 
Sind; in 1882. (See Watts’ Dict. Beon. Prod. of India ii., p. 
625). We notice the plant as a case of poisoning by its leaves 
has been reported in the Bombay Chemical Analyser’s Report 
for 1877-78. Inthis case the pounded leaves mixed with water 
fre said to have been swallowed. Persistent vomiting came 
on half-an-hour afterwards, and the patient—a male adult— 
died in fifteen hours, apparently from exhaustion. There was 
ho purging, and no head symptoms were present. 
Description _—An extensive climbing shrub, leaves 3— 
4 by 1} to 2 in., coriaceous, glossy above, nerves many, spread- 
ing, arched, faint, base acute; petiole } to § in.; cymes short, 
reading, peduncles and branches stout, Nears or glabrous ; 
acts caducous; corolla pale pinkish purple, tube and throat 
. long, limb often 2 in, diam., lobes acute ; follicles 4—5 
J hi in., broadest near the base, straight, woody ; seeds 
cigar © haope narrowed een coma | 
