86 ASCLEPIADACE.E. 



* * * Crown single, sometimes with accessory processes or denticulations alternate with 

 the anthers : calyx 5-parted, mostly small, commonly bearing some minute glandular 

 processes at base within. 



-i- Stems erect or merely decumbent, never twining : corolla rotate, 5-parted, dextrorsely 

 valvate-convolute in the bud (the lobes obscurely or more manifestly overlapping by 

 their edges, or at least by their tips) : body of the stigma &-angular or 6-lobcd, flat- 

 topped : crown consisting of distinct cucuUate or hollowed nectariferous appendages 

 (cucuUi or hoods), one opposite each anther : anthers margined with mostly corneous and 

 salient wings. 



•H- Hoods remote from the anthers, at the base of the long column. 



3. PODOSTIGMA. Corolla oblong-campanulate, 5-parted nearly to the 5-angular base; 

 the lobes erect, oblong, obtuse. Hoods of the crown short, somewhat incurved, and tlie 

 margins involute, forming pitcher-shaped nectariferous bodies. Column (and enclosed 

 styles) slender, almost as long as the corolla : five small processes under and alternating 

 with the short anthers. Wings of the latter widening downward to the truncate acute- 

 angled base. Follicles linear-fusiform, unarmed. 



++ ++ Hoods approximate to the anthers : corolla in anthesis patent or reflexed. 



= Hoods cristate- or corniculate- appendaged within. 



4. ANANTHERIX. Corolla reflexed in anthesis. Column under the hoods very short 

 but distinct. Hoods as long as the corolla and far longer than the anthers, ascending, 

 oblong-clavate with incurved summit, mainly solid, with narrow bilamellate ventral mar- 

 gin widening to and rounded at the summit, there enclosing a narrower and pointless 

 lamelliform crest. Anthers of membranous texture throughout ; their papery (instead 

 of corneous) wings much broadened downward and horizontally truncate at base. Cau- 

 dicles almost capillary, more than double the length of the oblong pollinia ! Leaves 

 opposite. 



5. ASCLEPIODORA. Corolla rotate-spreading in anthesis. Hoods basilar, inserted orer 

 the whole very short column, spreading and arcuate-assurgent, little surpassing the an- 

 thers, slipper-shaped and the rounded apex fornicate, hollow and with a thickish fleshy 

 back, traversed (at least the upper part) by a salient crest which near tlie apex divides 

 the cavity. Anther-wings (corneous) narrowed at base, angulate above the middle if at 

 all. Caudicles shorter than the pyriform pollinia. Leaves commonly alternate. 



6. ASCLEPIAS. Corolla almost always reflexed in anthesis. Hoods involute or com- ' 

 plica'te, not fornicate, bearing a horn or crest-like (pointed or rarely pointless) process 

 from the back or toward the base within, eitlier sessile next tlie corolla or elevated on a 

 column which is shorter than the anthers. Corneous anther-wings widening down to the 

 base, usually triangular, the salient base being truncate or semihastate, or not rarelj' 

 broadly rounded. Leaves opposite, sometimes varying to alternate or verticillate. 



= = Hoods wholly destitute of crest or appendage within : corolla reflexed in anthesis. 



7. ACERATES. Hoods involute-concave or somewhat pitcher-shaped. Anther-wings 

 widened or angulate if at all near or above the middle, thence narrowed to the base. 

 Otherwise as Asdepias. Leaves prevailingly alternate or scattered. 



8. SCHIZONOTUS. Hoods saccate, dorsally bivalvular, cleft posteriorly from apex to 

 base, the ventral side adnate to the whole length of the column. Leaves opposite. An- 

 thers, &c., of Acerates. 



9. GOMPHOCARPUS. Hoods various, open ventrally or at the top. Anthers, &c., of 

 Asdepias. 



•i— H— Stems twining (at least in ours) : corolla 5-parted or deeply cleft : crown of dis- 

 tinct or united plane or concave processes, or rarely cup-shaped. 

 ++ The 5 divisions abruptly pointed, 2-3-lobed or appendaged at the apex. 



10. ENSLENIA. Corolla erect-campanulate ; lobes ovate-lanceolate, slightly dextrorse- 

 overlapping in the bud. Crown nearly sessile at base of the anthers ; its divisions dis- 

 tinct, thin, oblong, the abrupt or truncate apex bearing a long-ligulate or awnlike (single 

 or) double appendage. Pollinia elliptical. Stigma with an elevated 2-lobed tip. Anther- 

 wings, follicles (smooth, ovate), seeds, &c., nearly of Asdepias. 



11. ROULINIA. Corolla rotate-spreading. Crown 5-parted; its divisions simply and 

 abruptly acuminate or ligulate-tipped. Anther-wings tuberculiform and short. Stigma 

 flat-topped. Otherwise nearly as the preceding. 



-H- ++ Divisions or lobes of the crown not tipped with any appendage or prolonged mid- 

 dle lobe : follicles smooth. 



12. METASTELMA. Calyx short and the lobes obtuse. Corolla usually campanulate, 

 6-clef t or 6-parted ; the lobes strictly valvate in the bud, commonly papillose-puberulent 



