338 Lxxvi. ASCLEPiADE-E, [Secamoue. 



Tlie species exteads perhaps to the Philippine Islands, for the S, aitenuatay Dcae., does 

 not appear to me to differ from it. The commoa Indian *S". emetica is, however, much more 

 distinct, in its purple flowers, less imhricate corolla-lobes, shorter corona and longer style. 



2?. S. ovata, 7?. Br. Prod, 464. Of this I have only seen a single 

 specimen in R. Brown's lierbarium, of which the flowers are gone. It ap- 

 pears to be distinct in its broader more ovate and obtuse or scarcely acute 

 leaves, which are shortly petiolate, 1 to 1\ in. long, — Dene, in DC. Prod, 

 viii. 504. 



N. Australia- Islands of the Gulf of Carpentaria, H. Brown. The species must re- 

 main very doubtful until it shall be again observed. 



Trtbe III. EuASCLEPiADKiE. — Pollcn-masses smooth, 2 to each anther, 

 pendulous. Corolla-lobes imbricate, usually contorted (very slightly so in 

 Gompliocarpm and Asclepias). 



3. SARCOSTEMMA, E. Br. 



Corolla rotate or nearly so, the lobes contorted in tlie bud, the right-hand 

 edge overlapping. Corona double, the outer one annular or cup-shaped, 

 usually at the base of the gynostegiuin, the inner one of 5 segments at the 

 back of tlie anthers, fleshy or saccate at the base, with a free erect point. 

 Anthers terminating in a membrane. Pollen-masses 3 to each anther, oblong 

 or clavate, pendulous. Stigma short, obscurely notched.— Stems in the 

 Australian typical section leafless and somewhat fleshy. Flowers in sessile 

 lateral umbels. 



The genus in its typical form is spread over tropical Asia and southern and eastern 

 Africa, the Australian species is endemic, but nearly allied to a widely spread Asiatic one. 

 The other sections, in which the stems are leafy, are limited to South America. 



1. S. australe, K Br. Frod. 4G3. A glabrous leafless somewhat fleshy 

 twiner, woody at the base, tlie branches terete, often articulate at the nodes, 

 the leaves replaced by minute opposite scales. Umbels sessile on one side 

 of the nodes between the scales. Pedicels about \ in. long. Calyx-seg- 

 ments ovate, obtuse, scarcely \ line long. Corolla deeply divided into ovate 

 obtuse lobes of about 2 lines. Outer corona adnate to the base of the gyno- 

 stegiura and about half its length, much undulate and sinuate but not lobed ; 

 segments of the inner corona saccate, nearly as lono- as the anthers. FoUicIes 

 rather narrow, 2 to 3 in. long.— Endl. Tconogr. t. G4. 



N. Australia. Intercourse Island, Dampier's Archipelago, A. Cunningham. 

 Queensland. Albany Island, W. Rill ; E. coast, R. Brown ; Curtis Island, Uenne, 

 Howicks %rox^^, P. Mueller ; Port Deuison, FUzalan ; dry ridges near Rockhampton, 



N S.\Vales. New England, C. Stuart; Hastings river, BecJcler ; Mount Goning- 

 berj-, ; iciortan Expedition. . 6 . 



7? ^7 vt^'xr''^^'^; ^"'^ ^'^'''°^' ^- ^'0^'^: I^ke Ton-ens, F. Mueller; Lake Gillies, 



BuTkdt ; Mount Searl, Warburton. 



W. Australia. Murchison riier, Oldfield, Brumvwnd, &th Coll. n. 144. 



4. PENTATROPIS, R. Br. 



(Rliyncharrhcna, F. MueU.) 



CoroUa nearly rotate, the lobes contorted in the bud (the right-hand edge 



