56 ASCLEP1ADACEM. [Mabsdenia. 



the free portion contiguous to the backs of the anthers. Staminal- 

 column short, anthers with inflexed membranous tips, pollen -masses 

 erect, one in each cell, waxy. Stigma flat convex or beaked. 

 Follicles with a thick pericarp, smooth ribbed or winged. Seeds 

 comose. — Species about 70, in tropical and subtropical regions of 

 both hemispheres, one occurring in the Mediterranean region. 



Corolla rotate, glabrous or hoary outside, 

 glabrous within 1. M. volubilis. 



Corolla urceolate or subcampanulate. 



Apex of style not exserted beyond the 

 anther-tips : — 



Corolla-lobes pubescent on both sides, 

 corona-lobes much exceeding the anther- 

 tips ; follicles beaked, transversely 

 rugose 2. M. Roylei. 



Corolla-lobes pubescent outside, glabrous 

 within, corona-lobes not exceeding the 

 anther-iips ; follicles not beaked, longi- 

 tudinally rugose . . , . 3. M. tenacissima. 



Corolla-lobes glabrous on both sides . 4. M. Hamiltonii. 



Apex of style exserted beyond the anther- 

 tips ; corolla-lobes glabrous outside, 

 pubescent within 5. M. lucida. 



M. volubilis, T. Cooke Fl. Bomb, ii, 166. Dregea volubilis, Benth. 

 ex Hook. f. F. B. I. iv, 46 ; Watt E. D. ; Kanjilal For. Fl. 244 ; Gamble 

 Man. Ind. Timb. 493; Train Beng. PI. 697; Brandis Ind. Trees 468. 

 Asclepias vohibili3, Linn. f. ; Boxb..Fl. Ind. ii, 36 ; Hoya Lacuna, Buch. 

 Ham. in Wall. Cat. 8169. 



A large twining shrub, glabrous or hoary-tomentose. Bark of old 

 branches often lenticellate and pustular. Leaves glabrous or softly 

 tomentose, subcoriaceous, 2^-6 by 2-4| in., broadly ovate or suborbicular, 

 acuminate, base rounded or cordate ; main lateral nerves 4-5, branching 

 into fine reticulate veins ; petioles stout, i-2i in. long. Flowers |-£ in. 

 across, green or yellowish green, arranged in slender drooping axillary 

 or interpetiolar umbelliform cymes ; peduncles usually longer than the 

 petioles, slender, puberulous ; pedicels -i-l in. long, very slender. 

 Calyx deeply divided ; segments ovate-oblong, obtuse or subacute. 

 Corolla rotate, glabrous or hoary outside, glabrous within, divided 

 nearly to the base ; lobes £ in. long, triangular-ovate. Corona-lobes 

 large and fleshy ; upper free portion rounded on the outer margin and 

 with an obliquely truncate apex, inner margin cuspidate. Staininal- 

 column arising from near the base of the corolla. Follicles 3-4 in. long 



