PLATE VIII. 



1. APOCYNUM ANDROS^MIFOLIUM, 



FI.Y-CATCHING DOG's-BANE. 



THIS genus contains hardy, herbaceous, perennial and shrubby 

 tender exotics, of the flowering kind. 



It belongs to the class and order Pentandria Digynia, and ranks 

 in the natural order Contortce. 



The characters are: that the calyx is a one-leafed, five-parted, 

 acute, short, and permanent perianthium: the corolla is monopeta- 

 lous, bell-shaped, arid semiquinquefid: the divisions revolute: the 

 nectary consists of five glandular oval capsules surrounding the 

 germ: the stamina consist of very short filaments: the anlherge ob- 

 long, erect, acute, bifid at the base, converging: the pislillum con- 

 sisting of two ovate germs: the styles short: the stigmas roundish, 

 bifid at the top, muricale, glued to the anthers: the pericarpium 

 consists of two long, acuminate, one-valved, one-celled follicles: 

 containing many very small seeds, crowned with long down; the 

 receptacle subulate, very long, rough, and free. 



The species are: 1. A. androscemifolium, Tutsan-leaved Dog's- 

 bane; 2. A. canabinum, Hemp Dogs-bane; 3. A. hypericifolium, St. 

 John's Wort-leaved Dogs-bane; 4. A. vcnetuni, Venetian Spear- 

 leaved Dogs-bane; 5. A.frutescens, Shrubby Dog-bane; 6. A. reti- 

 culatum, Net-leaved Climbing Dogs-bane. 



The first has the stems about three feet in height, and upright. 

 The leaves are opposite ; and these and the stems abound with a 

 milky juice, which flows out when they are broken. The corollas 

 are while, with the nectaries of a purplish cast. But, according to 

 some, they are pale red with a tinge of purple, the flowers being 



