ORDER LXXXVm. APOCYNACE.E. ORDER LXXXIX. ASCLEPIADACE.E. 



121 



united at base. Corolla convolute, sometimes induplicate in pre- 

 floration, 4 12-parted, regular. Stamens as many as the seg- 

 ments of the corolla, inserted on the tube, alternately with them. 

 Ovary 1-celled, free, sometimes apparently 2-celled, on account 

 of the 2 introflexed placentae. Style 1, or wanting. Stigmas 

 usually 2, sometimes 1. 



An order of beautiful plants generally pervaded by an Intensely bitter 

 tonic principle. Gentiana (GtnUan). flg. 29, and Menyanth (Bade- 

 bran), are examples. 



GROUP VHI. 

 ORDER LXXXVIII. Apocynacese. 



Trees, shrubs, or herbs, with a milky jnice. Leaves opposite, 

 or verticillate, rarely alternate, without stipules. Flowers regu- 

 lar. Sepals 5, united, persistent. Corolla 5-lobed, twisted in 

 prefloration. Stamens 5, alternate with the segments of the 

 corolla. Filaments distinct. Anthers 2-celled, sometimes slightly 

 connected. Ovaries 2, distinct, rarely united, but with 2 united 

 styles or stigmas. Fruit usually a pair of follicles, 1 sometimes 

 abortive. Seeds often with a coma, or tuft of hairs. 



A chiefly tropical order, distinguished by the active, usually poisonous nro- 



L eJ , ulc f' wln ""tains more or lew strychnine, which Is 



UJrZ..iS?^ t? m *? , Eas: In ' Iian 'Podo 9 of Strychnoa. Some of the 



^ & icld the Upas belong to this genus, as also that which furnishes the 



Woorari poison of Onlana. The Jnlce, also, yiel,ls caontchouc, which, 



In Sumatra, Is obtained from tlie Urceola clastlca. Apocynum (uSa-ban* 



Indian Iltmp), and Nerium (flltandtr\ are eiaroples. 



ORDER LXXXIX. Asclepiadacese. 



Uerbs, or shrubs, usually with a milky juice. Leaves usually 

 opposite, sometimes alternate or verticillate. Flowers generally 

 in umbels, sometimes in racemes or corymbs. Sepals 6, slightly 

 united at base. Corolla regular, consisting of 5 nearly distinct 

 petals. Stamens 6, inserted at the base of the corolla, alternate 

 with it segments united by their filament* into a tube. Anthers 

 2-celled. Pollen cohering m masses as many as the cells, or twice 

 IT, 



as many, which are united in pairs by a connecting thread, and 

 are attached to the glands of the stigma, from which they soon 

 hang loose, being released from their cells. Ovaries 2. Styles 2, 

 often very short. Stigmas united into 1 column for both ovaries. 

 Fruit consisting of 2 follicles, 1 sometimes abortive. Seeds usually 

 with a coma. 



Fig. 80. 



A large and chiefly tropical order, with, properties mnch like the last, lint 

 loss active. The various species of Ascleplas, two of which are seen in figs. 80 

 and 81, are oar principal Northern representatives. 



Fig. 8) 



