82 



List of Species. 



1 Carissa, Linn. 

 acuminata, A. DC. 

 arduinia, Linn. 

 grandiflorus, A. D.G. 

 Wyliei, N. E. Brown, 



2 Acokanthera, G. Dt 

 spectabilis, Bth. 

 venenata, Don. 



3 Rauwolfia, Linn. 

 natalensis, Soiid. 



4 Loohnera, Beichb. 

 rosea, Beichb. 



A. 



AB. 



A. 



Z. 



A. 

 A. 



AB. 

 AB, 



5 Tabernsemontana, Linn. 

 ventricosa, Hochst. AB. 



6 Voacanga, 'Vhouars. 

 Dregei. E.M. ? 

 Thouarsii, Boe^n. & Schultze. AB. 



7 Strophanthus, D.G. 



capensis, B.C. C. 



natalensis. ? C. 



8 Oncinotis, Bth, 

 inandensis, Tl^oorZ & Evans. 



9 Wrightia, B. Br, 



sp. 



B 



AB. 



ORDER CVII. ASOLEPI ADAGES. 



A somewhat large family of plants well marked by the peculiar 

 structure of their flowers Like Apocynaccie they inhabit warm climates 

 and are very abundant in South Africa. All possess a milky juice 

 which has various properties, in some emetic, in others sudorific, 

 purgative, poisonous, or quite harmless. The bark of some species 

 contains a fine and strong fibre, while others yield india-rubl:»er. 

 Amongst our indigenous species the roots of Ohlorocodon Whitei are 

 used by the natives as a tonic, and the plant is known as u-Mondi. If 

 it could be produced in quantity there woidd most likely be a demand 

 for it at Home for preparing a beverage akin to Ginger Beer. The 

 cottony substance attached to the seeds of some of the Gomphocarpi 

 is used for stuffing pillows, &c., and is collected for this purpose in 

 Cape Colony. The roots of some other species contain an alkaloid 

 which was supposed to be equal in its effects to quinine ; but analysis 

 by competent chemists in England prove it to be quite inert, though 

 previously' unknown to science. The milky juice of iSarcostemma 

 viminale will instantly allay the intense pain caused by the entrance 

 into the eye of the juice of any Euphorbiaceous plant, though upon 

 analysis at Home this also is said to be quite inert. The young seed- 

 vessels and fleshy stems are cooked and eaten by the native women, 

 and the stems of Gomphocarpus physucarpu.s. and perhaps of (x. 

 fruticosus also, contain a strong and perhaps valuable fibre. 



Number of species about 1300. 



KEY TO TRIBES. 



Pollen glandular, affixed in fours to the dilated 



apices of the corpuscles. A. Perifloce^e. 



Pollinia waxy, 2 in each cell. B. Sb:cA.\fONE-i:. 



PoUinia waxy, 1 in each cell. 1 



1 Corolla imbricate or valvate in bud. 2 



1 Corolla alwavs valvate in bud. 3 



