ASCLEPIAS. Ci. ASCLEPIADACER. 459 
fields. Stem 3—4f high, seldom branched. Leaves 5—8’ by 2—3’, tapering at 
both ends. Umbels several, axillary, subterminal, dense, globose, each of 20 
or more sweet-scented flowers. Calyx segments lanceolate. Corolla pale pur- 
ple, reflexed, leaving the corona, which is of nearly the same hue, quite con- 
spicuous. But few of the flowers prove fertile, producing oblong, poin 
rough pods or follicles, which contain a mass of long, silky fibres with seeds 
attached. July. 
2. A. PHYTOLAcCOIiDES. Ph. Poke-leaved Silkweed. 
St. simple, erect, puberulent; vs. broadly ovate, attenuated at base and 
apex, acute, smoothish both sides, glaucous beneath; ped. terminal, subequal- 
ing the leaves, whitish-puberulent, many-flowered; pedicels slender, loose; 
antheridium stipitate ; seg. of the corona truncate, bidentate; horns exserted.— 
A tall and elegant species, found in low, shady grounds, Can. to Ga. and Ark. 
Stem 4—5f high, smooth and slender. Leaves acuminate at each end, 6—9’ 
long and nearly half as wide. Umbels near the top on lateral peduncles, 4—6/ 
long and consisting each of 10—20 large flowers, on pedicels about 2’ in length. 
Petals green. Corona flesh-colored, each segment truncate, with its inner mar- 
gin 2-toothed, and with a long, slender, incurved horn. June. 
3. A. optusirotia. Michx. (A. cordata. Walt.) Blunt-leaved Silkweed. 
S¢. simple, erect; lvs. oblong-ovate or oval, obtuse, mucronate, sessile, 
cordate and subamplexicaul, undulate, very smooth both sides; wmbels termi- 
nal, many-flowered, glabrous, long-pedunculate ; corena horns arcuate, falcate, 
inflexed.—In shady grounds, prairies, Mid.! W.! and 8. States. Stem 2—3f 
high, bearing a single (rarely 2) terminal umbel of 30—40 large, reddish-green 
flowers. Leaves much waved on the margin, 4—5/ long, 4 as wide, with a 
broad, rounded, mucronate apex. Corolla light purple. Corona nearly white, 
its segments large, slightly 2-toothed. July. 
-¢ 4. A. purPpuRASCENS. Purple Silkweed. 
St. simple, erect, puberulent; dvs. elliptical, ovate-elliptical or ovate, mu- 
cronate, narrowed at base into a short petiole, smooth above, tomentose-pubes- 
cent and paler beneath; corona segments oblong or lance-ovate, obtuse; horns 
falcate, acute, resupinate.—In hedges and thickets, N. H.! Mass.! to Ia.! Stem 
3f or more high, simple or slightly branched at top. Leaves paler and downy 
beneath, the midvein purple, smooth above. Flowers in terminal, erect um- 
bels. Calyx small, green. Corolla dark purple, with reflexed segments. 
Corona purple, twice as long as the antheridium, its horns abruptly bent in- 
wards to a horizontal position and lying close upon it. July. 
oe. A. incarnita, (A. ameena. Michz.) Rose-colored Silkweed. 
z St. erect, branching above; dvs. lanceolate, on short petioles,- slightly to- 
mentose ; wmdels numerous, erect, mostly terminal, often in opposite pairs; seg. 
of the corona entire, horns exsert.—A handsome species, found in wet places, 
an.and U.S. Stem 3—4f high, with 2 hairy lines. Leaves 4—7’ by 4—1?, 
rather abrupt at base, tapering to a very acute point, on petioles }/ long. Um- 
pels close, 2—6 together at the top of the stem or branches, each an inch or 
more in diameter, on a peduncle 2/ long, and consisting of 10—20 small flow- 
ers. Corolla deep purple, corona paler. Horns subulate, curving inwards over 
the summit of the antheridium. July. 
B. puichra. St. and lvs. densely tomentose, the latter elliptical-lanceolate, 3— 
4 times as long as wide, sessile or on very short, hairy stalks.-Stem 4—5f 
high. A remarkable variety. 
6. A. quaprirouia. Pursh. 
Sé. erect, simple, smooth; Jvs. smooth, thin, petiolate, ovate, acuminate, 
mostly in 4s; wmbels few, lax, on long, terminal or axillary peduncles ; corona 
long, segments 2-toothed, horns short.—An elegant species, in dry woods, Can. 
and U.S. Stem about 2f high, slender, often with 1—2 hairy lines. Leavés 
opposite, the middle or upper pairs near together so as to appear in 4s, 2—3! 
long, 4 as wide, acute or acuminate, on petioles 2—4’ long. Flowers small, 
white, on filiform stalks with a pubescent line. Corona twice as long as an- 
theridium. July. 
oo” 
