Calotbopis.] ASCLEPIADACFJ;. 17 



ovate-oblong, caducous from above the baso. Flowers fragrant. Cahjx 

 glabrous, $ in. long ; lobes ovate-oblong, obtuse. Corolla groenish and 

 glabrous outside, purple within; lobes reflected, ^ in. long, oblong, obtuse, 

 densely bearded inside towards the apex. Ccrotia-lobes J- in. long, trans- 

 versely oblong at the base, each terminating in a long filiform process 

 with a recnrved apex. Stamens with glabrous filaments. Follicles on 

 short thick peduncles, widely divaricate, 3-7 in. long, woody, terete, 

 tapering to a point. Seeds £ in. long, coma 1 in. long. 



Merwiira (D Brandis). Flowers Mar.-April. Distrib. Plains of Sind 

 and Punjab, Salt Range, lower slopes of the Outer Himalaya eastwards 

 to the Chenab ; abundant also in Afghanistan and Baluchistan, extend- 

 ing to Persia, Arabia and Egypt. The fragrant flowers are eaten. The 

 stems yield a fibre which is used for masing well ropes. The milky 

 juice is employed medicinally. 



2. P. caKphylla, Falc. in Froc. Linn. Soc. i, 115 ,« Brand. For. Fl. 330 ; 



F.B.I, iv. 12; Kanjilal For. Fl. 239; Gamble Man. Ind. Timb. 490. 

 Streptocaulon calophjllum, Wight ; Boyle III. 273. — Vern. Parn 

 ( Jaunsar). 



A small glabrous twining shrub with slender branches. Leaves shortly 

 petioled, l$-3 in. long, narrowly lanceolate, caudate-acuminate, coria- 

 ceous, shining: on both surfaces, margins undulate ; lateral nerves 

 many, parallel, uniting within the margin, petiole £ in. long. Bract* 

 minute, scarious. Calyx-lobes broadly ovate, obtuse. Corolla 7 in. in 

 diam., pinkish or pale yellow. Corona-lob** hairy. Follicle* 4-6 in. 

 long, straight or curved, conniving, tapering gradually to the apex. 

 Seed* linear, $•■§ in. long, coma NI5 in. long. 



Dehra Dun at Sahansradhara (Royle, etc.) Flowers during April and 

 May. Distiub. Temp, and subtropical Himalaya from the Chamba to 

 Sikkim up to 7,000 ft., usually in shady ravines ; also in Assam and on 

 the Khasia Hills, extending to China. 



4. CALOTROPIS, R. Br. ; Fl. Brit. Ind. iv, 17. 



Erect glabrous or hoary shrubs, or small trees. Leaves opposite 

 btoad, snbses>ile. Flotvers large, arranged in umbel ate cymes. 

 Calyx divided to the base ; sepals broadly ovate, glandular within. 

 Corolla broadly campanulate or subrotate ; lobes broad, naked 

 valvatc Corona of 5 fleshy laterally compressed scales radiating 

 from the large stamiuul column, their bases terminating in an up- 

 curved or involute spur. Filament 8 connate into a tube; antheis 

 short, broad, tipped with membranous in Hexed appendages ; pollen- 

 masses solitary in each cell, pendulous, waxy. Stigma depressed, 

 5-angled or 5-lobed Follicles short, turgid, smooth. Seeds comose. 

 —Species 4, in Trop. Asia and Africa. 



