45f> 201 . ASCLEPIADACEAE 



io8. Corona double, the inner with short lobes. Anthers with a small apn 

 pendage at the apex. Mericarps constricted between the seeds. Twining 

 plants with a tuberous rootstock. Leaves heart-shaped. Flowers long- 

 stalked, in fascicles arranged in racemes or panicles. — Species 8. South 



and East Africa Riocreuxia Decne. 



Corona double, the inner with long lobes, or simple. Anthers without an 

 apical appendage. Mericarps not constricted. Flowers solitary or in 

 fascicles, umbels, or racemes ; if in fascicles arranged in racemes or 

 panicles, then short-stalked. — Species 90, Tropical and South Africa 

 and Canary Islands. Some species have edible tubers or stems, or serve 

 as ornamental plants Ceropegia L. 



109. Corona of 5 lobes inserted on the corolla beneath the sinuses, sometimes 

 with an inconspicuous fleshy ring at the base of the staminal column. 

 Anthers sometimes with a short apical appendage. Corolla hairy. 

 Sepals ovate, without glands. Shrubs, sometimes leafless. Flowers 

 small. — Species 6. Tropics, Sahara, and Egypt. Some species yield 



fibre Leptadenia R. Br. 



Corona inserted on the stamens no 



no. Corona simple in 



Corona double or triple 114 



111. Corona of 10 lobes united below. Sepals with glands at the base. Corolla 



almost rotate, deeply divided. Stigmatic head depressed. Erect herbs. 



Leaves broad. Flowers very small. — Species i. South-east Africa 



(Natal). (Under Brachystelma R. Br.) . Aulostephanus Schlecht. 



Corona of 5 free lobes 112 



112. Corolla rotate. Sepals with glands at the base. Pollen-masses minute, 



orbicular. Stigmatic head with a boss at the top. Twining plants. 



(See 89.) Tylophora R. Br. 



Corolla campanulate or almost urceolate. Erect herbs or undershrubs. 113 



113. Sepals lanceolate, with glands at the base. Corolla with contorted 



aestivation. Stigmatic head fiat. Leaves oblong or elliptic. — Species 



4. Central and South Africa Sphaerocodon Benth. 



Sepals without glands. Corolla with valvate aestivation. Leaves linear. — 

 Species 10. South Africa Sisyranthus E. Mey. 



114. Corona 3-ranked, the outermost lobes reflexed, the others erect, the inner- 



most the largest. Corolla campanulate, deeply divided. Twining 

 plants. Flowers in racemes, on long pedicels. — Species i. Equatorial 



West Africa (Cameroons) Neoschumannia Schlecht. 



Corona 2-ranked. Erect or procumbent herbs or undershrubs, rarely 

 twining, but then flowers in fascicles 115 



115. Inner corona-lobes broad, shorter than the outer 116 



Inner corona-lobes narrow, longer than the outer 118 



116. Outer corona cupular, entire ; inner of 5 small lobes. CoroUa campanulate, 



blackish-red, hairy within, with valvate aestivation. Flowers solitary. 



