Ecdysanthera.'] apocynacEjE. 223 



like those of Pottsia cantoniensis, ovate, obtusely acuminate, 2 to 3 in. long, 

 on petioles of \ in. or more, smooth and shining above and not glaucous un- 

 derneath. Panicles terminal or in the upper axils, trichotomous, broad and 

 loose. Flowers numerous, much smaller than in E. rosea, the corolla scarcely 

 above 1 line long and more broadly campanulate. Disk annular, shorter than 

 the carpels and slightly 5-crenate. 



Hongkong, Wright. Also Khasia, Assam, and Sikkim, the broader leaves of the Hongkong 

 specimens, and the flowers perhaps not quite so small, give them a rather different look from 

 the Indian ones ; but on a careful comparative examination I can find nothing else to sepa- 

 rate them. 



Order LXXI. ASCLEPIADE^l. 



Sepals 5, free or slightly united at the base, imbricate in the bud. Corolla 

 5-lobed, usually rotate or broadly campanulate, with a very short tube, more 

 rarely with a lengthened tube and erect or spreading lobes, valvate or con- 

 torted in the bud. Stamens 5, inserted at the very base of the tube ; the 

 short filaments connate in a tube (called the gynosiegium) enclosing the pistil. 

 Anthers erect, 2 -celled or rarely almost 4 -celled, opening inwards, each cell 

 containing usually a single globular oblong or linear pollen-mass ; those of 

 the adjoining cells (of different anthers) attaching themselves in pairs, or in 

 fours, to 5 processes of the stigma ; the anther usually terminating beyond 

 the cells in a small membrane or point. Outside the stamens is often a so- 

 called staminal corona, consisting either of 5 scales alternating with the lobes 

 of the corolla, or of a ring at its base, or more frequently a 5-lobed wing at- 

 tached to the staminal tube, each lobe at the back of an anther, and having 

 often an appendage inside it. Ovary of 2 distinct carpels with short styles 

 united at the top. Stigma usually a flat pentagonal disk, sometimes termi- 

 nating in a cone or long point, bearing at its angles the little processes to 

 which the pollen-masses are attached, and which fall off with them. Ovules 

 numerous. Fruit consisting of 2 follicles (or a single one by the abortion of 

 the other). Seeds several, terminating usually in a coma or tuft of silky hairs. 

 Albumen thin. Embryo straight. — Herbs, twiners, or rarely shrubs or even 

 trees ; the juice frequently milky. Leaves opposite, very rarely whorled or 

 alternate, entire. Flowers usually small, in axillary or lateral, or more fre- 

 quently interpetiolar (*, e. on one side between the petioles) cymes, racemes or 

 umbels, rarely large and showy. 



A large Order, chiefly tropical, with a few extratropical species as well in the New as the 

 Old World, and in both the northern and southern hemispheres. 



Corolla with a cylindrical tube above | in. long and spreading lobes . 6. Stephanotis. 

 Corolla rotate, or campanulate, or urceolate. 

 Corolla-lobes narrow-linear. 



Stem twining. Staminal crown of 5 scales at the back of the an- 

 thers with internal appendages. Pollen-masses 4 to each anther 1. Toxocarpus. 

 Stem erect. Scales 5, alternating with the corolla-lobes. Pollen- 

 masses 2 to each anther 8. Pentasacme. 



Corolla-lobes ovate. 



Leaves thick and fleshy. 



Corolla small, with a globular tube of 1 line, and very short 



lobes 9. Dischidia. 



