Asclepiadaceae 305 



in each carpel ; stigma ovoid, obtuse, obscurely 2-lobed. 

 Follicles slender, elongated, terete. Seeds small, tipped 

 with a large coma. 



1. A. cannabinum L. (INDIAN HEMP.) Root deep, vertical; 

 stem much branched, the branches erect or ascending, glabrous 

 or nearly so, more or less glaucous ; leaves oblong or lanceolate- 

 oblong to ovate-oblong, acute or obtuse and mucronate at apex, 

 narrowed or rounded at base, glabrous above, sometimes pubes- 

 cent beneath, 5-15 cm. long ; petioles 2-12 mm. long or sometimes 

 none; cymes dense; pedicels short, bracteolate at the base; 

 flowers 5-7 mm. broad; calyx-lobes about equaling the tube of 

 the greenish white corolla; corolla-lobes nearly erect; follicles 

 about 10 cm. long, narrowed at the apex. 



Occasional in moist places along streams. 



Family 76. ASCLEPIADACEAE. MILKWEED 

 FAMILY. 



Perennial herbs, vines or shrubs, mostly with milky 

 juice, opposite verticillate or alternate exstipulate leaves, 

 and mostly umbellate perfect regular flowers. Calyx- 

 tube very short, its segments imbricated or separate in 

 the bud. Corolla 5-lobed or 5-cleft, the segments com- 

 monly reflexed. A 5-lobed or 5-parted crown (corona) 

 between the corolla and- the stamens and adherent to 

 one or the other. Stamens 5, inserted on the corolla ; 

 filaments short, stout, mostly monadelphous or distinct ; 

 anthers attached by their bases to the filaments, in- 

 trorsely 2-celled ; anther-sacs tipped with an inflexed or 

 erect scarious membrane or unappendaged ; pollen 

 coherent into waxy or granular masses. Ovary of 2 

 carpels ; styles 2, short, connected at the summit by the 

 peltate discoid stigma ; ovules numerous, pendulous. 

 Fruit of 2 several-many-seeded follicles. Seeds com- 

 pressed, usually appendaged by a long coma. 



Plants twining. 1. PHILIBERTELLA. 



Plants erect or decumbent, not twining. 2. ASCLEPIAS. 



