LXXX. ASCLEPIADEiE. 243 



fleshy roots. Leaves narrow-linear, glabrous or pubescent. Flowers small, 

 in many- flowered, interpetiolar umbels. — 2 (or perhaps 4) species, natives 

 of the Eastern frontier and Natal, 



42. PIARANTHUS, R. Br. 



Caljx 5-parted. Corolla bell-shaped, 5-fid, fleshy. G-yno- 

 stege iucluded. Corona simple, 5-parted ; folioles dorsally 

 toothed. Anthers nude at tip. Pollinia erect, pellucid at one 

 side. Stigma pointless. — BO. Prod. viii. p. G50 ; Mass. Slap. 

 t. 24, 31, 35, 23, 24 ; Bot. Mag. t. 1648. 



Leafless succulents, with the habit of Stapelia ; differing in the corona. 

 — 6 species, natives of dry plains, and on the Northern frontier. 



43. HUERNIA, E. Br. 



Calyx 5-parted. Corolla bell-shaped, the limb 10-cleft, the 

 alternate lobes small, tooth-like. Grynostege included. Co- 

 rona double ; the outer 5-parted, with 2-fid lobes ; inner of 5 

 broad-based, awl-shaped folioles, alternating with the outer 

 segments. Other characters as in Piaranthus. — DC. Prod. 

 viii. p. 650 ; Mass. Stap. t. 2, 6, 3, 4, 7 ; Bot. Mag. t. 1662, 

 1227, 2401, etc. 



Leafless succulents, as the last genus. — 11 species, from Karroo plains, 

 etc. 



44. STAPELIA, Linn. 



Calyx 5-parted. Corolla rotate, 5-fid, fleshy. Grynostege 

 often exserted. Corona double ; the outer folioles or segments 

 entire or parted ; the inner horn-like, simple or 2-fid. Anthers 

 nude at tip. Pollinia erect, pellucid on one side. Stigma 

 depressed. Follicles smooth, erect. — DC. Prod. viii. t. 652 ; 

 Mass. Sfap. t. 11, et passim. 



Fleshy, branching, leafless plants, the stems and branches very generally 

 4-angled, with toothed ridges. Flowers mostly handsome (but detestably 

 scented), purple or greenish or spotted ; sometimes delicately fringed. — 

 About 90 species, natives of dry plains, etc. 



45. HOODIA, Sw. 



Calyx 5-parted. Corolla rotate, the tube very short ; limb 

 very large, dilated, concave, membranous, nerved, obsoletely 

 5-lobed, lobes tipped with a sharp point. Grynostege included. 

 Corona double ; outer 5-fid, the lobes rounded, erect, incurved, 

 obtuse, 2-fid, with an intermediate infiexed tooth ; inner of 

 broad-based, oblong, obtnse folioles, alternating with those of 

 the outer row. Other characters of StapeJia. — IJC. Prod. viii. 

 p. 664 ; Mass. Stap. t. 40. Scytanthus Gordoni, Hook. Ic. PI. 

 t. 625. 



R 2 



