Brachystelma.'] xcv. ASCLEPIADE^. (J. D. Hooker.) 65 



There are probably in India many species of this singular genus, which owing to 

 their slender habit and inconspicuous flowers may be overlooked. I cannot find any 

 character -whereby to distinguish Eriopetalum, Wight, from BrachystelmU. The fol- 

 lowing descriptions are all very imperfect. 



* Stem erect. 



1. B. laevig-atum. Hook. f. ; leaves minute subulate, umbels sessile, 

 corolla glabrous or puberulous, segments thrice as long as the tube, corona with 

 a broad 2-toothed lobe between the anthers, and as many narrow oblong ones 

 opposite them. Eriopetalum laevigatum, Wight Contrib. 35 ; Wall. Cat. 8149 ; 

 Dene, in DC. Prodr. viii. 646. Gomphocarpus laevigatus, Ham. 



NORTHERN OUDE ; at Gorukpore, Hamilton. 



Root the size of a small potato. Stem 12-18 in., pubescent upwards. Umbels 

 minutely hispid, as are the subulate sepals. Flowers pendulous, in. diam., pale 

 dirty purple, with pale green segments. Fotlicles 3 in. long, erect. Described partly 

 from a drawing in Herb. Kew. 



2. B. parviflorum, Hook. f. ; leaves long slender almost filiform 

 glabrous, flowers solitary very long-pedicelled, corolla villous segments twice 

 as long as the tube, corona shortly irregularly toothed. Eriopetalum parvi- 

 florum, Wight Contrib. 35; Dene, in DC. Prodr. viii. 646. 



NORTH-WESTERN INDIA; Doongie, Eoyle (Wight"). 



Leaves 4 in. by ~ in., acuminate. Pedicels 1-2 in. long, bracteate at the base. 

 Flowers f in. diam., white with a few spots on the tube and purple hairs on the 

 margins and segments. Sepals subulate. Described from a flower and drawing in 

 Herb. Wight. 



3. B. attenuatum, Hook. f. ; segments of corolla filiform 4-5 times as 

 long as the tube villous, corona shortly irregularly toothed. Eriopetalum 

 attenuatum, Wight Contrib. 35; Dene, in DC. Prodr. viii. 646. 



NORTH-WESTERN INDIA ; Doongie, Eoyle (Wight}. 



Flower f in. diameter. I have seen only a single flower in Herb. Wight. 



4. B. maculatum, Hook. f. ; glabrous, leaves long slender almost fili- 

 form, umbels sessile, corolla-lobes 2-3 times as long as the spotted tube keeled 

 above down the middle glabrous except a few scattered long cilia, corona with 

 5 subulate teeth opposite to and much higher than the anthers. 



CANARA or MYSORE, Law. 



Stem 10-12 in. Leaves 3-4 by ^ in. Flowers 2-3 together, f in. diam. Sepals 

 quite glabrous, subulate. 



5. B. glabrum, Hook.f.; quite glabrous, leaves narrowly linear-lanceo- 

 late or strap-shaped acute, umbels sessile, corolla puberulous lobes linear obtuse 

 three times as long as the tube, corona very short, minutely toothed. 



DECCAN PENINSULA, Beddome. 



Stem 6 in. Leaves 1-3 by -|- in. Flowers f in. diam. 



** Stem twining. 



6. B. volubile, Hook. f. ; quite glabrous, leaves long linear slender, 

 umbels peduncled, cerolla-lobes many times longer than the tube with very long 

 scattered hairs, margins incurved, column very depressed discoid, corona form- 

 ing a low broad obtusely 5-angled cup round its base. 



The CARNATIC; on the Cuddapa hills, alt. 2000 ft., Beddome. 



Stem several feet long. Leaves 3-5 by ^- in., acuminate. Umbels 2-3-fld. 



VOL. IV. F 



