382 Lxxxv. ASCLEPiADE^ (brown). \^Pentatropis. 



semi-ovate, shortly acuminate. Staminal-column 1\ lin. long, very 

 shortly stipitate. Follicles 1 J in. long, when flattened out nearly | in. 

 broad, elongate-ovate, acuminate, 2-nerved down the back. 



M'ile Xiand. Somaliland : Ogaden and Webi, RoheccM-Bricchetti, 321, 333. 



25. OXYSTELMA, R. Br. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. PI. ii. 749. 



Calyx 5-partite. Corolla with a very short tube enclosing the base 

 of the staminal-column, and a broad saucer-shaped limb 5-lobed to half- 

 way down ; lobes deltoid, acute, valvate at the base and overlapping to 

 the left at the apex in bud. Corona of 5 erect lanceolate-attenuate 

 lobes, arising from the staminal-column, with a crumpled gibbosity 

 at their base, which rests on truncate projections from the top 

 of the filament-part of the staminal-column. Stamens arising from the 

 base of the corolla-tube, united into a column around the ovary and 

 style Anthers erect, terminated by a short inflexed membranous 

 appendage. Pollen-masses pendulous, elongate-clavate, compressed, 

 attached in pairs by their attenuated ends to the short ovoid pollen- 

 carriers. Style pentagonal, truncate or slightly convex at the apex, 

 not exceeding the anthers. Follicles often solitary, inflated or 

 lanceolate, smooth. Seeds ovate, compressed, crowned with a tuft of 

 hairs. 



Species 2, one endemic, the other extending into India, Ceylon, Tonkin and 

 Java. 



This very distinct genus appears to have been somewhat incorrectly under- 

 stood. The authors of the Genera Plantarum have mistaken the very short densely 

 pubescent corolla-tube for an outer corona, whilst other authors describe the 

 follicles as winged. I do not find them to be so, but a somewhat wdng-like 

 appearance is sometimes produced by pressure in drying. The withered corolla 

 sometimes persists at the base of the follicles, which are often solitary. 



Leaves never cordate at the base; follicles not inflated 1. O. esculentum. 



Leaves often cordate at the base; follicles much 



inflated . . . . . . . .2.0. hornouense. 



1. O. esculentum, R. Br., var. Alpini, N. E. Br. Stem twining, 

 with a deciduous white tomentum on the tips of the young shoots, soon 

 becoming glabrous. Leaves spreading ; petiole 2|-4 lin. long ; blade 

 11-3 J in. long, J-5 lin. broad, linear or linear-lanceolate, acute, 

 usually narrowed into the petiole, but sometimes rounded at the base, 

 glabrous. Cymes pedunculate, subumbellately or racemosely 2-4- 

 flowered, glabrous; peduncle 1-1 J lin. long; pedicels J-| in. long, 

 thickened at the apex. Sepals -J- in. long, ovate-lanceolate, acute. 

 Corolla J in. or more in diam., saucer-shaped, 5-lobed to half-way 

 down, with the margins of the broadly deltoid acute lobes and the 

 mouth and inside of the very short tube velvety pubescent, otherwise 

 glabrous, white or pinkish, veined with purple at the base, whence 5 

 purple rays extend to the sinuses between the lobes. Coronal-lobes 

 2J lin. long, lanceolate or deltoid-acuminate, entire, bifid, or trifid at 

 the apex, gibbous and crumpled at the base. Style-apex slightly 



