ASCLEPIADE^E. 235 



1. ASCLEPIAS. Linn. 



Calyx small, 5-par ted. C0ro?5-parted, reflexed. Stamineal 

 crown (nectary) 5-leaved ; leafets opposite the anthers, each 

 producing from its base a subulate averted process. Stigma 

 with 5-angles, opening by longitudinal chinks, depressed. 

 PolUnia 5 distinct pairs. Follicles 2, ventricose, smooth or 

 muricate. Seeds comose. Pentandria. Digynia. 



* Leaves opposite. Nectaries with horns. 



1. A. syriaca Linn. : stem simple 1 ; leaves oblong-lanceolate, petio- 

 late, tomentose beneath ; umbel subterminal, many-flowered, nodding ; 

 flowers large ; nectary 2- toothed ; follicles muricate. 



HAB. Fields and road sides. N. S. W. to Miss. July, Aug. 

 24. Stem 24 feet high. Umbels lateral and terminal, 1520 

 flowered. Floicers large, pale purple. Nectaries red. 



Common Milk-weed. 



2. A. phytolaccoides Pursh : stem erect, simple ; leaves broad-lance- 

 olate, acuminate, smooth, pale beneath j umbels many-flowered, late- 

 ral and terminal, solitary, on long peduncles, nodding ; nectary 2- 

 toothed. A. exaltata and acuminata Muhl. 



HAB. Wet rocky grounds. Can. to Car. W. to Miss. June, 

 July. 2_f. Stem 34 feet high. Leaves large. Umbels few- 

 flowered, on long peduncles. Flowers large, greenish^purple. 

 A more delicate species than the preceding. 



3. A. debilis Mich. : smooth ; stem erect, weak, simple ; leaves peti- 

 oled,' oval-lanceolate, acute at each end, membranaceous ; umbels ter- 

 minal, loose ; pedicels capillary. A. parviflora Linn. ? 



HAB. Rocks near streams. N. Y. to Car. July, Aug. If. 

 Leaves large. Flowers white. Pursh. 



4. A. incarnata Linn. : stem erect, tomentose, branched above ; 

 leaves lanceolate, subsessile, somewhat tomentose ; umbels erect, 

 mostly in pairs ; nectary entire ; horns subulate, exserted. 



b. pulchra Pers. : stem and leaves very hairy. A. pulchra Wttld. 

 HAB. Banks of streams. Can. to Car. W. to Miss. July, Aug. 



H,-~~Stem 2 4 feet high. Umbels numerous, generally in pairs. 



Flowers pale purple. Var. b. differs only-in its pubescence. 



5. A. amotna Linn. : stem erect, branched above, with 2 longitudi- 

 nal pubescent lines ; leaves subsessile, oblong-oval, acute, pubescent 

 beneath ; umbels terminal, erect, many-flowered ; nectary entire ; 

 horn subulate, exserted. 



HAB. Swamps and wet grounds. N. S. July, Aug. 21. Stem 

 3 feet high. Umbels many-flowered. Flowers purple. 



6. A. purpurascens Linn. : stem erect, nearly simple ; leaves ovate, 

 subsessile, nearly smooth above, white, downy beneath, with the mid- 

 rib broad and purple ; umbels erect ; 'horns of the nectary resupinate. 



HAB. Near Boston. Big. July. y. Stem 34 feet high. 



