a e 
| Nerium. Cl. APOCYNACE. 457 
in low shades and hedges, Can. to Ga. and Ark. Stem 2—4f high, generally 
dividing above into long, slender branches. Leaves 14—2}/ by 8—11”, oppo- 
site, on petioles 2’ long, and, when young, downy beneath. Cymes terminal, 
with linear bracts. Flowers about half as long as those of the last species. 
Sepals lanceolate, acute. Corolla white, with straight, obtuse segments. The 
fibres of the bark are strong and pliable, said to be used by the Indians in 
various ways as hemp. July, Aug. 
8. pubescens. Lvs. beneath and cymes pubescent. 
3. A. HYPERICIFOLIUM. St. John’s-wort. Dog’s-bane. 
Smooth; Jvs. oblong, on very short petioles, obtuse or subcordate at ba.e, 
mucronate; cymes terminal, shorter than the leaves; cal. nearly as long as the 
tube of the corolla—Gravely banks of streams. Stem erect, 2f high, with 
opposite branches. Leaves 2—4’ long, } as wide, lower ones often sessile and 
cordate, smooth both sides but paler beneath. Flowers very small, in dense 
cymes at the ends of the stems and branches. Sepals lance-linear, about as 
long as the tube of the greenish-white, erect corolla. Aug. 
2, AMSONIA. Walt. . 
Calyx 5-cleft, segments acuminate; cor. 5-cleft, tube narrowly 
funnel-form, bearded inside, hispid at throat; segments linear, con- 
volute in estivation ; sta. 5; sty. 1; ova. 2, connate at base; folli- 
eles 2, erect, slender, fusiform ; seeds in one row, cylindric, truncate 
at each end.—Lws. alternate, entire, subsessile. Cymes terminal, corym- 
bose. Fils. blue. 
A. TaBERNEMONTANA. Walt. (A. latifolia. Michz.) _ i 
Erect; lvs. ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, acute at base, briefly petiolate, 
margin slightly revolute ; sep. glabrous, lanceolate, acuminate ; cor. pilose out- 
side near the top.of the tube.—A plant ef singular appearance, in prairies and 
damp grounds, Western! and Southern States! Stem terete, smoethish, 2f 
high, branched above. Leaves numerous, 3—4’ by 1—1}’, conspicuously 
veined beneath. Flowers pale blue, in several terminal, cymose clusters. 
Corolla 8” diam., very hairy at top of tube. Follicles in pairs, 2—3/ long, 
about 6-seeded. May,June. __ 
3. VINCA. 
' Lat. vinculum, a band; from the long twining branches. 
Corolla hypocrateriform, contorted, border 5-cleft, with the lobes 
oblique, orifice 5-angled; 2 glands at the base of the ovary; eapsule 
follicular, erect, fusiform; seed oblong—Trailing shrubs. Lws. 
evergreen. 
1. V. minor. Lesser Periwinkle:—Sts. procumbent; lvs. elliptic-lanceolate, 
smooth at the margins; fs. pedunculate; seps. lanceolate—Native in Europe. 
A handsome evergreen, flowering in May. Stems several feet in length, round, 
smooth and leafy. Leaves opposite, smooth and shining, aboui an inch long. 
Flowers solitary, axillary, alternate, violet, inodorous. 
2. V. mason. Greater Periwinkle.—Sts. nearly erect; ivs. ovate, ciliate; fis. 
pedunculate ; sep. setaceous, elongated —Native in Europe. Shrub with nume- 
rous, slender, straggling branches, very leafy, forming light masses of ever- 
green foliage flourishing best beneath the shade of other plants. Leaves 1—2’ 
in. length, rounded or somewhat cordate at base. Flowers blue, appearing in 
May and June. 
4. NERIUM. 
Calyx with 5 teeth at the basé outside of the corolla ; corolla hy- 
shrubs. Lws. evergreen. 
