ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY. 



161 



a position which I feel some hesitation in adopting especially as applied to the section Peri- 

 ploceoe, the dilated corpuscules of which are often found covered with minute, globose pollen- 

 grains, sufficiently resembling those of Apocynaceoe. Hence I should conclude that, if any one 

 character more than another was to be chosen, on which to found a generally-applicable dis- 

 tinction between these two orders, I would select the stigmatic corpuscules, which, in some form 

 I have never seen wanting In Asclepladea?, in preference to the pollen. But in this case it is not 

 necessary to have recourse to single characters, since each family supplies seyeral. No Jpoci- 

 nia presents an approximation to a regular gynostegium and stigmatic corpuscules and neither, 

 I believe, is any Asclepiadeous plant altogether without them. But while I thus, with Lindley' 

 view the two orders as amply distinct, I cannot coincide with him in considering the corres^ 

 pondence between them as one of analogy rather than affinity, and viewing Asckpiadecc, as 

 more nearly allied to SolanacecB than to ApocynacecB. On the contrary, I am inclined to view 

 the four orders associated in my fourth group as all very nearly related, and suspect that 

 Jasminece might, without much violence, be added to the group, but of this last I speak with 

 great hesitation. I have already adverted, under Cinchonaceoe ^ to the relationship existino- 

 between that order and this one. In addition to the distinguishing marks, between these orders 

 derived from the position of the ovary and the presence of stipules, I may add here the milky 

 juice, so general in Apocyjiaceoe, but not found in the other. 



Geographical Distrtbutiox. The tropical parts of Asia may be stated as the focus 

 of this order. They abound in Southern India and Ceylon, and in the Eastern Islands; a h\v 

 extend Southwards to Australia, also to Africa and her Islands. In the tropical parts of 

 America they are more numerous than in either of these Continents, perhaps, in some measure, 

 owing to the flora of the latter being better known. In Europe aud North America a few 



occur, 



( ¥17100" s) 



Properties and Uses. As in most milky plants, these are of considerable energy and 

 in some cases of great virulence, but in others they are mild, and in a few the fruit is edible. 

 Of the former, Tanghinia veninifera, a Madagascar plant, affords a striking example. It is 

 recorded of this plant that the kernel of the fruit, though not larger than an Almond, is suf- 

 ficient to poison twenty people, while on the other hand the pulpy fruit of our Calacca (Carissa 

 carandas) boiled with syrup makes a very passable preserve and tart fruit. A jelly resembling 

 that of red currants is obtained from it. The fruit of other species of Carissa is also edible 

 as is that of Willughheia edulis^ Roxb. This brief catalogue nearly exhausts those distinguished 

 for the possession of mild properties in the fruit. The kernels of Cerhera mangas^ a common 

 Malabar tree, are poisonous, and in small doses act as an emetic; the sap is purgative and in 

 Java the leaves are used as a substitute for Senna. Two allied genera, AUamanda and Thevetio^ 

 possess nearly similar properties, both being acrid and poisonous, but when carefully administered 

 become safe evacuants. The bark of Thevetia neriifolia^ an American species, but now not 

 uncommon In India, is said to be so powerfully febrifuge that two grains of it is equal to a full 

 dose of Cinchona. The common Oleander, though little suspected, is a highly poisonous plant. 

 The roots of the one so common In India are well known to the natives as such, and Lindley 

 relates an instance, where a number of French soldiers were poisoned by eating meat roasted 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE 151-b. partly. 



E. Jasminum rigidum {Z'mkei). 

 1. Detached flower. 



2- An anther. 



3- Calyx and ovary. 



4- 5. Ovary cut transversely and vertically, ovules 

 amphitropal. 



6. 7. Fruit about half grown and nearly mature. 

 8. 9. Cut vertically and transversely. 

 JO. Detached seed, natural size. 



11. Jasrninum hrevilohum, detached flower 



12. Anthers, back and front 



13. Calyx and ovary. 



14. 15. Cut vertically and transversely. 



16. Full-grown fruit. 



17. 18. Cut vertically and transversely. 



19. Detached seed, natural size. 



20. Seed-lobe, radicle at the base. 



Z 



% 



