170 ' LXXXIII. ASCLEPIADACE.E. 



4. Ceropegia bulbosa, Roxh. Cor. PI. v. 1 (1795) p. 11, t. 7. 

 Twining : root tuberous, the size of a small turnip, a little flattened, 

 with several fibres from its base ; stem very slender, usually glabrous. 

 Leaves excessively variable (see the varieties). Flowers in pedunculate 

 umbellate cymes ; peduncles |-1 in. long, arising from between the 

 petioles ; pedicels g-5 in. long, slender. Calyx divided to the base ; 

 sepals yV in. long, lanceolate, acute. Corolla |-| in. long, greenish ; 

 tube inflated at the base; lobes l in. long, linear from a deltoid base, 

 hairy, connate at the tips, violet-purple inside ; outer corona-lobes 5, 

 minute; inner corona-lobes narrowly linear, jL in. long. Pollen-masses 

 erect, attached to the pollen-carriers by very short caudicles. Follicles 

 4 by -g- in., cylindric, tapering towards an acute apex, glabrous ; pericarp 

 thin. Seeds ^ in. long, ovate-oblong, flattened, with a broad submem- 

 branous margin ; coma 1-1 1 in. long. El. B. I. v. 4, p. 67 ; Woodr. 

 in Journ. Bomb. Nat. v. 12 (1898) p. 168 ; Watt, Diet. Econ. Prod, 

 v. 2, p. 262. 



The leaves and the tubers are eaten, tlie former, according to Eosburgh, tasting 

 like purslane {Portulaca oleracea), the lattei-, when fresh, like raw turnips. — Distuib. 

 India (Panjab and Upper Gaugetic plain, W. Peninsula). 



Var. 1. hulhosa iwoper. Hook. f. Fl. B. I. v. 4 (1883) p. 68. Leaves 

 petiolate, the lowest almost orbicular, the upper ones elliptic-oblong or 

 obovate, rarely elliptic-lanceolate, usually apiculate, base rounded, trun- 

 cate, subcordate or acute. Grab. Cat. p. 117; Dalz. & Gibs. p. 153; 

 Wight, Icon. t. 845. — Flowers : Aug. 



KoNKAN : Malabar Hill (Bombay), Graham; island of Karanj a, i)«L-f// 4' Gibson. 

 Deccan: 10 miles W. of Poona, Woodrow. S. M. Country: Belgaum, lUtchie, 1110! 



Vau. 2. Lusldi, Hook. f. Fl. B. I. v. 4 (1883) p. 68. Leaves sub- 

 sessile, fleshy, glaucous, 4-8 by ^-\ in., narrowly linear, acuminate. 

 Ceropeqla LusUi (sp.), Graham, in Bot. Mag. (1834) t. 3300 ; Grah. Cat. 

 p. 117; Dalz. & Gibs. p. 154. 



E.are. Kanaka : Kasersai jungles, Dr. Lush ex Graham. 



5, Ceropegia tuberosa, Roxl. Cor. PL v. 1 (1795) p. 12, t. 9. 

 Twining, glabrous ; root of many small tuberous knobs with fleshy 

 fibres ; stem slender. Leaves membranous, l|-4 by ^-2 in., the lower 

 leaves suborbicular, the middle-stem leaves ovate, the upper oblong, all 

 usually apiculate, glabrous, base rounded, acute or subcordate ; petioles 

 l-l in. long. Peduncles 1-3 together, ^-3 in. long, arising from 

 between the petioles or subaxillary ; pedicels fascicled or subpaniculate, 

 slender, glabrous ; bracts subulate. Calyx divided to the base ; sepals 

 ■^-i in. long, narrowly lanceolate, acute, with scarious margins, more or 

 less recurved. Corolla I-l^ in. long; tube inflated at the base and 

 enlarged at the mouth ; limb suddenly contracted from a broad tri- 

 angular base into linear lobes, at first coiniate throughout their entire 

 length, appearing in bud like a narrow beak, afterwards free, about h as 

 long as the tube : outer corona cupular, truncate, with 5 small pockets 

 alternating with the inner corona-lobes, ciliate ; inner corona-lobes 

 -^ in. long, linear, slightly clavate at the apex. Pollen-masses with a 

 pellucid apical margin, erect, attached to tlie pollen-carriers by very 

 sliort caudicles. Follicles 3|-5 by }^ in., slender, straight or very slightly 

 cui-ved, tapering to a fiue'point, glabrous. Seeds \ in. long, linear- 



