89. APOCYNACE.^. 



2-fid. Ovules 2-1 in each cell. Berry globose, 2-1-seeded (or drupa- 

 ceous with membranous endocarp). 



1. A. tetracantha, LamTc. Syn. Monetia barlerioides, L'Herii. ; Tri- 

 kantajati, Beng. {fide Boxb.). 



A formidably armed shrub with the thorns often 4-nate (paired in 

 the leaf axils), hairy twigs and glabrous coriaceous leaves reminding 

 one of a Carisaa. L. ovate to lanceolate {" or elliptic with cuneate 

 base"), Avith 1-3 sec. n. only. Fls. very small yelloAvish, -07" {Clarke 

 describes them as -5" diam. !). Berry •3--5" diam. white when ripe, 

 1-2-seeded. 



Scrub jungles near the coast. Balasore! Puri ! Fl., Fr. April-May. 



Thorns straight 'e-l" long on the twigs, lower part often green, tips needle-Uke. 

 L. shining both sides, larger 2" by 1'6", base (in my plants) rounded, margins 

 recurved, apex spinulose, petiole "IS". Upper bract-leaves sparsely hairy. Calyx 

 urceolate silky with recurved lobes. Petals green membranoiis oblong recurved "l". 



The berries are eaten. 



FAM. 89. APOCYNACE^. 



Trees, shrubs or, rarely, herbs, often twining and usually with 

 milky jviice. Leaves opposite or Avhorled or in some introduced 

 species {Plumeria, Cerbera, etc.), alternate, quite entire simple exstipu- 

 late.* Flowers regular, 2-sexual, cymose or panicled. Calyx inferior 

 with 5, rarely 4, imbricate lobes, often with glands at the base 

 within. Corolla I'otate or salver-shaped with lobes spreading, rarely 

 funnel-shaped, lobes contorted and often twisted in bud (valvate in 

 Pay-sonsia). Stamens as many as lobes, on the corolla Avitli short 

 filaments, anthers usually conniving over the stigma and sometimes 

 adhering to it but not forming a column (as in most Asclepediacese), 

 pollen granular. Disc often present, consisting of glands or annular 

 or cupular. Ovary 2.celled (1 -celled in the American genus Alla- 

 manda) or usually of 2 more or less distinct carpels vmited by the 

 style, the top of which is usually enlarged. Ovules 2-many in each 

 cell, rarely 1 only. Frviit of free or connate follicles, more rarely a 

 berry, or drupe. Seeds often with a coma of silky hairs or winged, 

 albumen present or not, cotyledons flat concave convolute or con- 

 torted, radicle usually superior. 



The family abounds in important rubl)er-producing plants, especially in Africa. 

 The juice is frequently poisonous. 

 I. Anthers not attached to the stigma (though often con- 

 niving round its top) , anther-cells not spui-red : — 



A. Ovary syncarpous, style entire at base : — 



1. Ovary i-celled. Cultivated shrubs with very large fls. 1. AUamanda. 



2. Ovary 2-celled :— 



Armed shrubs, Ovules few 2. Carissa. 



Unarmed shrubs. Ovules many. Only occasional 



in gardens Melodi7iusip. 535). 



B. Ovary with the two carpels often appressed but distinct 



(sometimes united below in Ran wolf a) in flower, 

 style split at base : — 

 1. Leaves alternate :— 

 a. Ovules few in each carpel. Frt. drupaceous or 

 baccate :— 



* But sometimes with a stipular line and stipule-like glands. 

 35 531 



