APOCYNACEAE 233 



appendages in the throat, opposite the lobes. Stamens inserted at 

 the base of the corolla, short; anthers sagittate, connivent, slightly 

 adherent to the stigmas. Ovaries 2, oblong, surrounded at base by 

 6 glands. Follicles in pairs, rigid, long and slender; seeds imbrica- 

 ted, linear, with a silky tuft (coma) at apex. Perennial herbs: 

 flowers in axillary or terminal paniculate cymes. 



1. A. androsaemifolium, L. Leaves ovate, rounded at 

 base ; cymes few-flowered ; corolla-tube longer than the calyx, 

 the lobes recurved. 



ANDROSAEMUM-LEAVED APOCYNUM. Dog's-bane. 



Stem 2 to 3 feet high, smooth, purple, erect, with spreading branches. Leaves 2 

 to 3 inches long, acute, mucronate ; petioles about ^ of an incn in length. Cymes 

 mostly terminal; pedicels with subulate bracts at base; calyx-segments lance-ovate, 

 about half as long as the corolla-tube; corolla pale red, or whitish with purple 

 stripes. Ovaries distinct; stigmas united, large. Follicles about 4 inches long, 

 terete, attenuated at apex; seeds % of an inch in length, very narrow, truncate at 

 apex. 

 Hob. Copses; fence-rows, &c.: frequent. Fl. June. Ft: Sept. 



2. A. caiiiiabiuuili, L. Leaves lance-oblong, acute at each 

 end ; cymes many-flowered ; corolla-tube the length of the calyx, 

 the lobes erect. 



HEMP APOCYNUM. Indian Hemp. 



Stem 2 to 4 feet high, smooth, purplish and a little glaucous, with rather erect 

 branches. Leaves 2 to 4 or 5 inches long, varying from ovate-lanceolate to linear- 

 oblong, acute, or conspicuously mucronate; petioles %to%&n inch in length. 

 Cymes somewhat paniculate, one frequently dichotomal near the summit ; pedicels 

 with lance-linear bracts at base ; calyx-segments lanceolate, about as long as the 

 corolla-tube ; corolla mostly greenish-white, sometimes tinged with red. Follicles 

 as in the preceding, but more slender. 

 Ifab. Borders of woods; slaty hills: not common. Fl. Aug. Fr. 



Obs. The bark of this species is said to afford a strong fibre, like 

 that of hemp : whence its common name. 



ORDER LXXIII. ASCLEPIADACEAE. 



Perennial herbs, mostly with a milky juice; leaves entire, usually opposite (some- 

 times verticillate, rarely scattered), stipules none ; flowers regular, pentamerous 

 and pentandrous ; corollarlobes mostly valvate in the bud ; filaments mostly dilated, 

 and connate in a tube, inclosing the pistils, the tube augmented by a crown of 5 

 lobes, or scales, at summit ; anthers erect, united in a pyramidal 5-angled mass 

 which is truncate at apex, each 2-celled ; cells opening perpendicularly, or trans- 

 versely ; pollen in waxy masses, which are attached, in pairs, to 5 small processes 

 at the angles of the stigma; ovaries 2; styles distinct, coalesced at summit, form- 

 ing a 5-angled stigma common to both; fruit & follicle; seeds imbricated, com- 

 pressed, mostly margined and comose ; albumen thin. 



An Order remarkable for the peculiar structure of the flowers (well illustrated 

 in Prof. GRAY'S admirable Botanical Text Book), and containing a number of 

 plants interesting to the curious ; though but few of any economical value. 



337. ASCL,E V PIAS, L. 



[The Greek name of ^Esculapius ; to whom the genus is dedicated.] 

 Cdy% deeply 5-parted, persistent; segments lanceolate, spreading. 



