ASCLEPIADACE^E. 



f. 33.) West Indies and tropical parts of the American con- 

 tinent. 



Root fibrous. Stem about 3 feet high. Herbage covered with a fine 

 minute downiness, especially on the stem, peduncles and calyx. 

 Leaves lanceolate-oblong, gradually narrowed into the petiole, rather 

 wavy. Peduncles between the petioles, shorter than the leaves, 

 bearing at the end a simple umbel of about 8 flowers. Calyx reflexed. 

 Corolla scarlet, with reflexed, acute segments; appendages erect, 

 yellow, rather shorter than their horn. This plant is called Wild Ipe- 

 cacuhana in the West Indies, where it is employed by the negroes as an 

 emetic. The roots, which are the part used, appear to be also purga- 

 tive. A decoction is said to be efficacious in gleets and fluor albus. 



CALOTROPIS. 



Corolla somewhat campanulate, with an angular tube, and a 

 5-parted limb ; the angles saccate internally. Coronet of 

 appendages 5-leaved; leaflets carinate, attached vertically to 

 their tube, revolute at the base. Anthers terminated by a mem- 

 brane. Pollen-masses compressed, pendulous, attached by a 

 narrow point. Stigma not pointed. Follicles ventricose, smooth. 



1 144. C. gigantea RBr. in. Hort. Kew. ed. 2. ii. 79. R. and S. 

 vi. 91. Bot. Reg. t. 58. Asclepias gigantea Linn, sp.pl. 312. 

 Ericu Rheede ii. t. 31. Madorius Rumph. herb. amb. auct. 24. 

 One of the most common large shrubs all over India. (Mu- 

 dar.) 



Stem often as thick as a man's leg, or thigh, nearly erect, branched, 

 abounding in an acrid milky juice. Bark ash-coloured. Young shoots 

 covered with soft woolly down. Leaves opposite, decussate, subses- 

 sile, embracing the stem, broad, cuneate-obovate, bearded on the upper 

 side where they end in the petiole ; the upper surface pretty smooth ; 

 the under one, covered with a white woolly pubescence ; from 4 to 6 

 inches long, and from 2 to 3 broad. Umbels generally simple, though 

 sometimes compound, stalked. Peduncles round, covered with the 

 same woolly substance as the leaves and young shoots, and issuing 

 alternately from between the opposite leaves, nearly erect, half the 

 length of the leaves. Involucres several oblong pointed scales. 

 Flowers large, beautiful, a mixture of rose colour, and purple. Calyx 

 5-parted. Corolla full 2 inches in diameter ; segments oblong, obtuse, 

 revolute, reflexed at the point. A plant of great importance in Indian 

 medicine ; employed in epilepsy, hysterics, convulsions from coitus 

 immediately after bathing, spasmodic disorders, such as locked jaw, 

 convulsions in children, paralytical complaints, cold sweats, poisonous 

 bites, and venereal complaints. Roxburgh. Under the names of 

 Mador, Mudar, Akum, and Yercund, the root and bark, and especially 

 the inspissated juice, are used as powerful alteratives and purgatives. It is 

 especially in cases of leprosy, elephantiasis, and intestinal worms that it 

 has been found important. Its activity appears owing to the presence 

 of Mudarine, a singular substance possessing the property of coagu- 

 lating by heat and becoming again fluid by exposure to cold. 



1145. C. procera RBr. in hort. Kew. ed. 2. ii. 78. Bot. Reg. 



540 



