ASCLEPIADACEAE. 



[Vol, III. 



2. Asclepias decumbens L,. Decum- 

 bent Butterfly-weed. (Fig. 2901.) 



Asclepias decumbens L. Sp. PI. 216. 175.3. 

 Asclepias tuberosa var. decumbens Pursh, Fl. Am. 

 Sept. 184. 1814. 



Hirsute-pubescent; stems decumbent, 2-3 

 long, the ends ascending or erect. Leaves sessile 

 or short-petioled, oblong or elliptic, obtuse at 

 the apex, narrowed and often inequilateral at 

 the base, x f -j/ long, Yz'-iyl' wide, the upper 

 opposite, the lower commonly alternate, the up- 

 permost very small; umbels several or numerous, 

 many-flowered, racemose along the branches, 

 one usually in each of the upper axils; pedun- 

 cles stout, short; pedicels slender, somewhat 

 j pubescent, about ^' long; corolla-segments ob- 

 long, acutish, dark orange, about 3" long; 

 column about Y^" high, the hoods erect, ob- 

 long, orange, slightly longer than the subulate 

 horn; follicles more slender than in the last. 



In dry fields, Illinois and Ohio to North Caro- 

 lina and Florida. June-Aug. 



3. Asclepias lanceolata Walt. Few- 

 flowered Milkweed. (Fig. 2902.) 



Asclepias lanceolata Walt. Fl. Car. 105. 1788. 

 A. paupercula Michx. Fl. Bor. Am. 1: 118. 1803. 



Nearly glabrous throughout; stem slender, usually 

 simple, naked above, 2-4 high. Leaves opposite, 

 distant, linear or narrowly lanceolate, elongated, 

 acuminate, narrowed at the base, short-petioled, 

 4 / -io / long, 2 // -7 // wide, roughish on the margins, 

 the primary nerves widely spreading; umbels few- 

 flowered, solitary or 2-4 at the summit; peduncles 

 about equalling the slender puberulent pedicels; 

 corolla-segments oblong, 4 // -5 // long, deep red; 

 column thick, about \" high; hoods obovate or ob- 

 long, obtuse, orange, 2-toothed near the base, nearly 

 twice the length of the anthers and longer than the 

 subulate incurved horn; anther-wings notched at 

 the base; fruiting pedicels decurved; follicles erect, 

 minutely puberulent, fusiform, about &f long. 



In swamps, southern New Jersey to Florida and 

 Texas, mostly near the coast. Southern forms with 

 greatly elongated leaves may be distinct. June-Aug. 



4. Asclepias rubra L. Red Milkweed. 

 (Fig. 2903.) 



Asclepias rubra L. Sp. PI. 217. 1753. 



Nearly glabrous throughout; stem usually sim- 

 ple, i-4 high. Leaves opposite, rather distant, 

 short-petioled, ovate, lanceolate or the lower some- 

 times oblong, rounded or subcordate at the base, 

 gradually acuminate, rather firm, 3 '-8' long, r/- 

 2 / wide, the primary nerves wide-spreading; um- 

 bels 1-4, many-flowered; peduncles shorter than 

 or equalling the upper leaves; pedicels slender, 

 downy, %.'-\' long; corolla-segments and hoods 

 lanceolate-oblong, purplish red, or the hoods 

 orange-red, 2> // ~A // long; horns of the hoods very 

 slender, nearly straight; fruiting pedicels deflexed, 

 the follicles erect, spindle-shaped, glabrous, about 



4' iong- 



In moist soil, New Jersey and Pennsylvania to 

 Florida, Louisiana and Texas. The plant of tbe south- 

 ern States {A. laurifolia Michx.), may be distinct. 

 June-July. 



