AsclepiadecB. 143 



granular or waxy masses, which are usually solitary, some- 

 times 2 in each cell, and erect or pendulous, the pairs (or 

 fours) from the adjacent cells of dififerent anth. being attached 

 by ped. {appendages) to glands [corpuscles) at each angle of the 

 stigma; ov. superior, of 2 distinct carp., enclosed in staminal 

 tube, with numerous ovules, styles 2, stigma i, usually large, 

 united with anth., 5 -angled ; fruit of 2 follicles ; seeds numerous, 

 compressed, with a long brush of hair (coma) at one end, 

 embryo large, in copious endosperm. 



The thirty-nine species of this Family are all inhabitants of the low 

 country, with the exception of 2 species of TylopJiora and 2 of Ceropegia 

 confined to the Hills ; seven other species also extend upwards into the 

 montane zone. The majority are dry-country plants exclusively, as 

 Secavione^ Oxysfeluia, Pentatropis^ Holostemma, Marsdenia, Cosmostigma^ 

 Leptadema, and Caralluma ; the rest occur in both moist and dry 

 regions, only two, Dregea and Dischidia, being confined to the former. 

 Only eight species are endemic, belonging to the genera Gymnema^ 

 Tylophora^ and Cej'opegia. 



The minute size and fleshy character'of the column and corona render 

 the examination of these flowers a matter of some difficulty. 



Filaments distinct or very nearly so, pollen- 

 masses 2 in each cell. 



Cor.-lobes valvate I. Hemidesmus. 



Cor. -lobes contorted 2. Cryptolepis. 



Filaments completely connate. 



Pollen-masses 2 in each anth. -cell. 



Cor.-lobes oval ; stigma short, bifid . . 3. Secamone. 

 Cor.-lobes linear ; stigma long, fusiform , 4. Toxocarpus. 

 Pollen-masses solitary in each anth. -cell. 

 Anth. with a membranous infiexed tip. 

 Pollen-masses pendulous. 



Corona double, corolline and staminal . 5. Oxystelma. 

 Corona single, corolline or staminal. 



Stem erect 6. Calotropis. 



Stem twining. 

 With leaves. 



Corona staminal, of 5 vertical pro- 

 cesses. 

 Cor. rotate .... 7. Pentatropis. 

 Cor. funnel-shaped ... 8. D^MIA. 

 Corona corolline, annular or cu- 

 pular. 

 Fl. large ; follicles thick, obtuse 9. HOLOSTEMMA. 

 Fl. small ; follicles narrow, ta- 

 pering . . . .10. Cynanchum. 



Leafless it. Sarcostemma. 



Pollen-masses erect. 



Corona corolline 12. Gymnema. 



