CALOTEOPIS.] ASCLEPIADACE&. 47 



ovate-oblong, caducous from above the base. Flowers fragrant. 

 glabrous, in. long ; lobes ovate-oblong, obtuse. Corolla greenish and 

 glabrous outside, pnrple within; lobes reflexed^in. long, oblong, obtuse* 

 densely bearded inside towards the apex. Corona-lobes in. long, trans- 

 versely oblong at the base, each terminating in a long filiform process 

 with a recurved apex. Stamens with glabrous filaments. Follicles on 

 short thick peduncles, widely divaricate, 3-7 in. long, woody, terete. 

 tapering to a point. Seeds I in. long, coma 1 in. long. 



Merwara (D. Brandis). Flowers Mar.- April. DISTRIB. Plains of Sind 

 and Punjab, Salt Range, lower slopes of the Outer Himalaya eastwards 

 to the Chenab ; abundant also in Afghanistan and Baluchistan, extend- 

 ing to Persia, Arabia and Egypt. The fragrant flowers are eaten. The 

 stems yield a fibre which is used for making well- ropes. The milky 

 juice is employed medicinally. 



2. P. caUphylla, Falc. in Proc. Linn. Soc. i, 115; Brand. For. Fl. 330 ; 

 F.B.I.iv. 12; Kanjilai For. Fl. 239; Gamble Man. Ind. Timb. 490. 

 Streptocaulon calophyllum, Wight; Royle III. 273. Vern. Parn 

 ( Jaunsar). 



A small glabrous twining shrub with slender branches. Leaves shortly 

 petioled, 1^-3 in. long, narrowly lanceolate, caudate-acuminate, coria- 

 ceous, shining on both surfaces, margins undulate ; lateral nerves 

 many, parallel, uniting within the margin, petiole % in. long. Bracts 

 minute, scarious. Calyx-lobes broadly ovate, obtuse. Corolla J- in. in 

 diam., pinkish or pale yellow. Corona-lobes hairy. Follicles 4-6 in. 

 long, straight or curved, conniving, tapering gradually to the apex. 

 Seeds linear, ^-| in. long, coma M in. long. 



DehraDun at Sahansradhara (Royle, etc.) Flowers during April and 

 May. DISTRIB. Temp, and subtropical Himalaya from the Chamba to 

 Sikkim up to 7,000 ft., usually in shady ravines ; also in Assam and on 

 the Khasia Hills, extending to China. 



4, CALOTROPIS, R. Br. ; Fl. Brit. Ind. iv, 17. 

 Erect glabrous or hoary shrubs, or small trees. Leaves opposite 

 broad, subsessile. Flowers large, arranged in umbellate eymes. 

 Calyx divided to the base ; sepals broadly ovate, glandular within. 

 Corolla broadly carnpanulate or subrotate ; lobes broad, naked 

 valvatp. Corona of 5 fleshy laterally compressed scales radiating 

 from the large staminal column, their buses terminating in an up- 

 curved or involute spur. Filaments connate into a tube; anthers 

 short, broad, tipped with membranous in flexed appendages ; pollen- 

 masses solitary in each cell, pendulous, waxy. Stigma depressed, 

 5-angled or 5-lobed Follicles short, turgid, smooth. Seeds comose* 

 Species 4, in Trop. Asia and Africa. 



