1 86 



APOCYNACE^E. 



[CLASS 



DISTRIBUTION. Chiefly tropical, with but compara- 

 tively few outliers in temperate regions. One British 

 genus (scarcely indigenous), species 2. 



Type Lesser Periwinkle ( Vinca minor). 



A trailing wiry evergreen, with opposite entire shinkig 

 leaves, and large blue solitary axillary flowers. 



FIG. 129. Vertical section of 

 flower of Vinca rosea. The 

 transversely constricted annu- 

 late stigma to the left. 



OBSERVE the contorted 

 aestivation of the unequal- 

 sided lobes of the corolla : 

 the hour-glass contraction of 

 the stigma : the carpels, free 

 at the base (ovary), consoli- 

 dated in the style and stigma ; 

 ultimately (in fruit) wholly 

 free. 



Generally, the Apocynaceae 

 are dangerous. Seven out of 

 twelve French soldiers, at 

 Madrid, are said to have died 

 from using a spit of the wood 

 of the Oleander (Neriuni) in 

 cooking ; and a kernel of the 

 Madagascar Ordeal - poison 

 (Tanghima) is stated to be 

 sufficient to kill twenty people. 

 This ordeal used to be em- 

 ployed in cases of suspected 

 witchcraft or apostasy. Some 



