546 DICOTYLEDONES. 



a unipared scorpioid cymose sympodium ; in addition, complications also arise 

 through individual parts becoming united. Herbs and shrubs, some twining 

 or climbing. 



In Asdepias the corolla is bent back and there is a cup-like 

 cucullus, from the base of which protrudes a horn-shaped body, 

 bent inwards. Vincetoxicum has a rotate corolla and a ring-like, 

 5-lobed cucullus, without internal prominences. Stapelia (especially 

 from S. Africa) is remarkable on account of its Cactus-like, leafless stems and 

 large, brownish flowers, often with carrion-like smell. Periploca has more 

 powdery pollinia (S. Eur., etc.); Hoy a carnosa (Wax-flower; Trop. Asia) is a 

 climber, and has small, annual, flower-bearing dwarf-branches. Ceropegia. 



204 genera with 1700 species, distributed over all tropical countries ; few 

 outside these limits : no native species. Several are used in medicine on 

 account of the pungent properties of the latex. Condurango-bark of Gonolobus, 

 condurango is medicinal. Caoutchouc is obtained from the latex of some (e.g^ 

 from Cynanclmm). The seed-hairs, which are most frequently shining, silk- 

 like, and white, are not sufficiently pliant to be of much value. Ornamental 

 plants in our gardens : Asclepias-species, etc. 



Order 4. Loganiaceae. Ovary single, with two loculi, in structure resem- 

 bling the Kubiacese, but superior. 360 species are included in this order ; the 

 majority are tree-like, some lianes which climb by tendril-like branches. The- 

 inter{>etiolar stipules of some species are very characteristic (as in Rubiaceae, to 

 which they maybe considered to be closely related). The fruit is a capsule or 

 berry. The most familiar genus is Strychnos, which has spherical berries with 

 an often firm external layer, and compressed seeds with shield-like attachments; 

 endosperm abundant. The leaves have 3-5 strong, curved nerves proceeding 

 from the base. Spigelia. They have no lutex, as in the two preceding orders, 

 but many are very poisonous (containing the alkaloid " strychnine," etc.) ; the 

 South American arrow-poison, urare or curare, is made from various species 

 of Strychnos, also an arrow-poison in the East Indian Islands (Java, etc.) 

 OFFICINAL, the seeds of Strychnos nux vomica (" Vomic nut," Ind.). The seeds 

 of Strychnos ignatii (Ignatius-beans, medicinal), and others are poisonous. 



Order 5. Oleaceae. The leaves are always opposite. The 

 inflorescences are racemes or panicles. The calyx and corolla are 

 4i-merotis, more or less united, free in some species ; the corolla 

 has most frequently valvate estivation. All four forms of fruit 

 occur (see the genera). Ovules pendulous, 2 in each loculus 

 (Fig. 583 0). Endosperm oily. Syringa (Lilac) arid Forsythia 

 (anthers somewhat extrose) have capsules with loculicidal de- 

 hiscence and winged seeds. Fraxinus (Ash) has winged nuts 

 (samara) (Fig. 583 D) ; trees with most frequently imparipinnate 

 leaves ; the flowers are naked and sometimes unisexual (poly- 

 gamous), the Manna Ash ( F. ornus) has however a double perianth 

 with 4 free petals (Fig. 583 a) ; in the native species, F. excelsior^. 



