2. PERIPLOCA, Linn. 



330 LV. ASCLEPIADEiE. [Cryptolepis. 



included; filaments short, free, anthers broad-sagittate, with a tuft of hairs 

 at the back, adhering at the base to the edge of the stigma, otherwise free j 

 pollen granular. Fruit of 2 divaricate, ovoid-lanceolate follicles. 



1. C. Buchanani, Eoem. & Schult. j Falconer in Linn. Trans, xix. p. 53, 

 t. 5. Syn. Nerium reticulatum, Eoxb. Fl. Ind. ii. 8. Yern. Karanta. 



A large twining shrub, abounding with milky juice. Leaves oblong or 

 obovate-oblong, pale beneath, obtuse and mucronate, or suddenly acumin- 

 ate, blade 3-6 in., petiole \ in. long ; main lateral nerves numerous, trans- 

 verse, parallel, alternating with shorter ones, with anastomosing intramar- 

 ginal veins. Flowers small yellow, on short pedicels, in pedunculate 

 axillary cymes, shorter than leaves. Bracts ovate-lanceolate. Follicles 

 2-3 in. long. 



North-West India, plains and sub-Himalayan tract (ascending to 4000 ft.), not 

 known west of the Sutlej. Nepal, Behar, Bengal, South India and Ceylon. Fl. 

 May-June. 



Corolla rotate, lobes ovate, longer than the tube, generally hairy on the 

 upper surface. Corona of 5 short thick appendages, each terminating in 

 a long filiform arista. Filaments short, free, anthers oblong, cohering lat- 

 erally, with a tuft of hairs at the back ; pollen-grains cohering in fours. 

 Follicles divaricate. 



Leaves minute or wanting 1. P. aphylla. 



Leaves lanceolate, long acuminate, 2-3 in. long . . 2. P. calophylla. 



1. P. aphylla, Dne. in Jacq. Yoy. t. 116. Yern. Barrarra, barre, 

 Trans-Indus and Sibsagar Doab ; Bata, Jhelam and Chenab. 



A shrub, with erect leafless stems, glabrous or extremities pubescent, 

 now and then with a few small thick ovate leaves. Flowers small, dark 

 purple, sweet-scented, in short lateral rounded cymes, the corolla-lobes 

 hairy above. Follicles on short thick peduncles, divaricate, cylindrical, 

 gradually tapering, 3 in. long. 



Common in many places trans-Indus and Sindh. Salt range, outer Hima- 

 laya, eastward to the Chenab, ascending occasionally to 3500 ft. Afghanistan, 

 South Persia, Arabia, Egypt. Eaten by goats, used as fuel ; the flower-buds are 

 sweet, and are eaten, raw or cooked, as a vegetable. Fl. March, April. 



2. P. calophylla, Falconer ; DC. Prodr. viii. 498. 



A small shrub, wholly glabrous. Leaves shining, lanceolate, long-acu- 

 minate, 2-3 in. long, on short petioles ; main lateral nerves numerous, 

 parallel, transverse, anastomosing by oblique veins. Flowers small, red, 

 in short axillary, generally opposite rounded cymes; appendages hairy ; 

 corolla-segments ciliate. Follicles drooping, parallel, 3-6 in. long. 



Outer ranges of the Himalaya westward to the Jumna, and ascending to 5000 

 ft. Kasia hills. Fl. March, April. 



