LXXXIII. ASCLEPIADACEy^. 145 



adjoining cells of two contiguous anthers united in pairs or fours either 

 directly or by appendages (caudides) to each of the 5 minute turgid or 

 2-fid bodies {pollen-carriers or corimsdes) which lie on the dilated part 

 of the style. Ovary superior, of 2 one-celled distinct carpels enclosed 

 within the staminal-column, with their styles united above into a disk 

 (style-apex or siylc-tahle) which is 5-angled, short and included between 

 the anthers, or is produced beyond them into a long or short simple or 

 2-fid column ; ovules usually numerous, rarely few or solitary, ana- 

 tropous, pendulous, imbricate in several series on the projecting 

 placenta. Fruit of 2 follicles (1 sometimes suppressed). Seeds com- 

 pressed, usually flat, often margined, crowned with a tuft of long hairs 

 {coma) at one end ; albumen thin or ; embryo large ; cotyledons flat ; 

 radicle short, superior. — Distrib. A large ()rder of more than 1800 

 species spread through tropical and subtropical regions of the world, 

 a few in temperate regions. 



Filaments usually free ; pollen-masses granular. 



Corolla-lobes valvate 1. Hemidesmus. 



Corolla-lobes overlapping to the right. 



Corona of 6 free fleshy lobes 2. Cryptolepis. 



Corona-lobes connate into a ring 3. Periploca. 



Filaments connate into a tube ; pollen-masses waxy. 

 Anthers with a membranous appendage. 



Pollen-masses 2 in each anther-cell (20 in all). 



Corolla-lobes overlapping to the right 4. ToxorARPUS. 



Corolla-lobes valvate 5. G enianthus. 



Pollen-masses 1 in each antber-cell (10 in all). 

 Pollen -masses pendulous. 



Corona coroUine 6. Glossonema. 



Corona staminal. 



Stem erect 7. Calotropis. 



Stem twining. 



Corona single, of 5 lobes. 



Corolla divided ^-way down ... 8. Oxystelma. 

 Corolla divided almost to the 



base 9. Pentatropis. 



Corona double. 



Follicles with soft spines 10. D.emia. 



Corona single, annular or cupular. 

 Twining or erect leafy slirubs. 

 Flowers lai'ge ; corona a 

 fleshy ring with truncate 

 margin ; follicles thick, 



obtuse 11. Hoi.OSTEMMA. 



Flowers small ; corona a 

 plicate ring with lobed or 

 toothed margin ; follicles 



narrow, tapering 12. Cynanchum. 



Trailing leafless shrubs 13. Sarcostemma. 



Pollen-masses erect, rarely horizontal, never pen- 

 dulous. 



Corona corolline 14. Gvmneua. 



Corona staminal, rarely 0. 



Corolla-lobes overlapping. 



Corona of 5 distinct lobes or 

 tubercles. 



Corona-lobes tubercle-like and 

 enlirelyadnate to the staminal- 

 column or radiating from its 



base 15. Tylophora, 



TOL. II. L 



