APOCYNEJE. 



69 



10 F. LITTORA'LIS (Blum, bijdr. 1021.) parasitic; leaves oval, 

 acute at both ends, almost veinless : stipulas petiolar, rounded 

 at top ; peduncles terminal, usually by threes. 1~ . S. Native 

 of the island of Nusae-Karabanga. Parasitical on trees. 



Sea-shore Fagraea. Fl. Oct. Shrub parasitical. 



11 F. MINOR (Herb. Reinwdt. ex Blum, bijdr. p. 1 21.) 

 parasitic; leaves oval, acute, rounded at the base, veiny ; sti- 

 pulas petiolar, rounded at top ; peduncles terminal, sub-corym- 

 bose, trifid. ^ . S. Native of Java, upon trees on the moun- 

 tains, where it is called Mengando. 



Smaller Fajrraea. Fl. year. Shrub par. 



1 -2 F. BLU'MII ; parasitic ; leaves obovate-oblong, bluntish, 

 almost veinless above; stipulas petiolar, emarginate at the 

 apex ; peduncles terminal, corymbosely 3-flpwered. J? . S. 

 Native of Java, in mountain woods. F. obovata, Blum, bijdr. 

 p. 1021. but not of Wall. 



Blume's Fagraea. Fl. Feb. Shrub par. 



Cult. The species of Fagraea bear large foliage, and showy 

 flowers, as the other genera of the order. A mixture of loam, 

 peat, and sand, is a good soil for them ; and cuttings strike root 

 readily in sand, placed in heat, with a hand-glass over them. 



ORDER CLII. APOCVNE2E (so named on account of its 

 containing plants agreeing in particular characters with Apocy- 

 num.) Juss. gen. p. 160. R. Br. prod. p. 465. 



Calyx 5- cleft, permanent. Corolla monopetalous, hypogy- 

 nous, regular, 5-lobed, imbricate in aestivation, deciduous. 

 Stamens 5, epipetalous, alternating with the segments of the 

 limb of the corolla ; anthers 2-celled : dehiscing lengthwise ; 

 pollen granular. Stigmas at first applied to each other. Ovaria 

 solitary or twin, and therefore the styles are 1 or 2, and but 

 always 1 stigma ; ovaria for the most part many seeded. Fruit 

 follicular, drupaceous or baccate, 1 or many-seeded, solitary or 

 twin. Seeds usually albuminous. Embryo foliaceous, with an 

 inconspicuous plumule. Trees or shrubs usually full of acrid 

 milky juice. Leaves opposite, sometimes verticillate, rarely 

 scattered, quite entire, usually furnished with interpetiolar cilia 

 or glands. Inflorescence sub-corymbose. 



All the plants contained in this order are very natural. The 

 structure of the anthers and stigmas easily distinguish them from 

 Ascltpiadeae, to which they are more nearly allied than to any other. 

 The order Strychnaceae is distinguished from this in the peltate 

 seeds. The order is also closely allied to the Rubiacece ; but is 

 easily distinguished from it, in the want of interpetiolar stipulas, 

 and in the superior ovariura, &c. 



We now turn from the contemplation of plants endued with 

 mild and agreeable properties, and fragrant flowers, and often 

 bearing food for man, to others, which are among the most dan- 

 gerous poisons, whose juices, though milky, are not a wholesome 

 and delicious beverage, like those of Sapotacete, but, on the con- 

 trary, acrid, caustic, and bitter. They are readily known by the 

 twisted direction of the corolla, which have been compared to 

 the rays of St. Catherine's wheel, whence they were called, by 

 Linnaeus, Contortae. 



By far the greatest part of the order consists of tropical trees 

 and shrubs ; a few Apocynums, Amsbnias, and f'incas, are 

 natives of the colder regions of the earth. Many are elegant 

 climbers, as the different species of Echites, Melodinus, &c. 

 The splendid Oleander belongs to Nerium ; the different species 



of Plumiera, Cameraria, Strophdnthus, and Carissa, are stove 

 plants of the greatest beauty. 



The medicinal action of these plants is highly powerful. In 

 general the Apocy'nece are acrid, stimulating, and astringent : 

 these principles, when in excess, act so powerfully on the nerves 

 as to produce stupefaction. The root of Ophioxylon is very 

 bitter and purgative. The bark of Tanghinia Manghas is pur- 

 gative ; of Echites untidy senterica, and the Wrightia of the same 

 name, astringent and febrifugal. The leaves of the Vinca are 

 so astringent, that they have been used successfully in tanning ; 

 those of Nerium Oleander are said to abound in gallic acid. 

 The inspissated juice of the species of Cerbera, known in Mexico 

 under the name of Ycotli, is a fatal poison. The fruit of Tan- 

 ghinia is the famous ordeal of Madagascar. 



Synopsis of the genera. 



TRIBE I. 



ECHITIE'X. Fruit of 2 follicles, sometimes a Z-celkd capsule. 

 Seeds furnished reith a tuft of hairs at the upper or umbilical end. 



* Tube of corolla naked, not cronned, and nithout scales or 

 teeth inside. 



1 ECHITES. Stamens inclosed; anthers adhering. Hypo- 

 gynous scales 5, distinct, rarely combined. Corolla salver-shaped, 

 with dimidiate segments. Follicles slender. 



2 CHONEMORPHA. Stamens inclosed ; anthers adhering. 

 Hvpogynous scales 5, distinct or combined. Corolla funnel- 

 shaped, with dimidiate segments. Follicles slender. 



3 AGANOSMA. All as in Chonemorpha, except the hypogy- 

 nous scales, which are long and combined ; and the style thick, 

 not slender ; and the stigrna is conical, angular at the base, and 

 mucronate at top, not emarginate. 



4 BBADMOSTIA. Calycine segments foliaceous. Corolla 

 funnel-shaped, with a short tube, and a large, swollen, campanu- 

 late limb, with equal lobes. Stamens exserted; anthers ad- 

 hering. Stigma bidentate. Follicles combined, large, long. 



5 PACHYPODICM. Stamens inclosed ; anthers nearly sessile, 

 adhering. ? Hypogynous scales none. Corolla salver-shaped : 

 with equal, obtuse segments. Follicles ovate. 



6 ICHNOCA'RPUS. Stamens inclosed ; anthers free. Hypogy- 

 nous corpuscula 5, filiform. Corolla salver-shaped, with dimidiate 

 segments. Follicles slender. 



7 HOLARRHE'NA. Stamens inclosed; anthers free. Hypo- 

 gynous corpuscula wanting. Corolla sagittate, with equal seg- 

 ments. Follicles slender. 



8 ISONB'MA. Stamens exserted ; anthers adhering ; filaments 

 simple at top. Hypogynous scales wanting. Corolla salver- 

 shaped ; limb 5-parted. 



9 VALLA'RIS. Stamens exserted ; anthers adhering ; fila- 

 ments each furnished with a fleshy gibbosity outside, at the 

 apex. Hypogynous scales 5, combined at the base. Corolla 

 salver-shaped ; limb 5-parted. Ovarium 2-celled. 



10 HELY'GIA. Stamens exserted ; anthers adhering ; fila- 

 ments filiform. Hypogynous scales 5. Stigma clavate. Corolla 

 rotate, with dimidiate segments. Follicles combined, with 

 adnate placentas. 



