OXYSTELMA. 



OXYSTELMA. 



Corolla somewhat rotate, spreading, with a short tube. Stigma- 

 cover projecting. Coronet 5-Ieaved ; with acute, compressed 

 undivided leaflets. Anthers terminated by a membrane. Pollen- 

 masses compressed, fixed by the attenuated point, pendulous. 

 Stigma pointless. Follicles smooth. Seeds comose. Wight. 



1156. O. esculentum RBr. prodr. 318. R. and S.\\. 89. 

 Wight and Am. asclep. 54. comp. Sot. Mag. ii. 52. t. 22. 

 Periploca esculenta Linn, suppl. 168. Roxb. corom. i. 13. 1. 14. 

 Asclepias rosea Roxb.fl. ind. ii. 40. Hedges, among bushes on 

 the banks of water courses, pools, &c. common on the continent 

 of India. 



Root fibrous. Stems filiform, round, smooth, green, voluble. Leaves 

 shortly petioled, opposite, linear-lanceolate, acute, rounded and sub- 

 cordate at the base, entire, smooth, deep green above, paler and veined 

 beneath, deciduous ? From 2 to 3 inches long, by about \ an inch 

 broad. Racemes axillary, long-peduncled, bearing from 3 to 8 large, 

 sub-campanulate, 5-cleft flowers ; their segments triangular, acute, ex- 

 ternally of a pale rosy hue, internally purplish, marked with darker 

 lines. Column of fructification prominent ; crown of 5 inflated leaves, 

 broad, and somewhat compressed at the base, tapering to a sharp 

 incurved point. Anthers terminated by a membrane. Pollen-masses 

 compressed, attached by their attenuated apex, pendulous. Stigma 

 large, flat, covered on the edges by the membranous lips of the anthers. 

 Pericarps two large inflated follicles : these consist of two coats or 

 layers, loosely attached to each other, and it is between these that the 

 inflation takes place, as the inner coat is of a firm texture, and closely 

 embraces the seeds, which are numerous and comose. Wight. Said 

 by De Candolle to be eatable ; but Roxburgh says he did not find that 

 the natives ever eat it, and Dr. Wight makes the same statement ; 

 adding, however, that in decoction it is used as a gargle for aphthous 

 affections of the mouth and fauces. 



545 



