LXXX. ASOLEPIADEiE. 997 



1. GYMNANTHERA, R. Br. 



(Anthers naked.) 



Corolla with a cylindrical tube and spreading lobes, contorted in the bud, 

 the right-hand edges overlapping. Filaments distinct, inserted in the throat. 

 Corona of 5 scales, inserted in the corolla- throat behind the filaments. Pollen- 

 masses 4 to each anther, granular, attached in fours (2 from each adjoining 

 anther) to filiform appendages of the style. — Twiner with milky juice. Leaves 

 herbaceous. Cymes loose, or interpetiolar or almost axillary peduncles. ' 



The genus is limited to a single species endemic in Australia. It is the only Australian 

 Asclepiadea with granular pollen-masses, 



1. G. nitida (shining), R. Br. Prod. 464; BentL.Fl. Austr. iv. 326. A 

 tall glabrous twiner, woody at the base. Leaves opposite, on rather long 

 petioles, from ovate to oblong-elliptical, obtuse acute or mucronate, 2 to 3 or 

 rarely 4in. long, of a rather firm consistence. Flowers of a greenish-white, 

 the cymes shortly pedunculate, with rather elongated branches and numerous 

 small bracts. Pedicels 3 to 4 lines long. Calyx-segments ovate, f line long, 

 with an irregular broken ring of small glands inside at the base, often united 

 into small lobed scales alternating with the segments. Corolla-tube about 8 

 lines long, the lobes nearly as long, broadly ovate. Corona-scales broad, 

 mucronate or denticulate. Filaments broad and flat, connivent but not connate. 

 Anthers acuminate, glabrous, the cells subdivided by vertical partitions between 

 the pollen-masses. Stigma very shortly 2-lobed. Follicles divaricate, rather 

 slender, 2 to Bin. long. — Dene, in DC. Prod. viii. 493. 



Hab.: Islands of the Gulf of Carpentaria, B. Brown; Sweers Island, Henne; Port Curtis, 

 UPGilUvray ; Nerkool Creek, Suttor Elver, and Mount Wyatt, Bowman. 



2. SECAMONE, E. Br. 



(Arabic name of one species.) 



Corolla rotate, deeply 5-lobed, the lobes contorted in the bud, the right-hand 

 edges overlapping. Corona of 5 laterally compressed segments, vertically adnate 

 to the gynostegium at the base, with free falcate or ligulate points, usually 

 shorter than the gynostegium. Filaments connate. Pollen-masses 4 to each 

 anther, nearly smooth, erect, attached in fours, 2 from each adjoining anther, to 

 small appendages of the styles (as in the genera with 2 masses to each anther). 

 Stigma very short and obtuse. — Stems from a woody base, straggling- trailing or 

 twining. Leaves herbaceous, often pellucid-dotted. Flowers very small in loose 

 axillary or interpetiolar solitary cymes. 



The genus extends over tropical Asia, southern Africa, and the Mascareue Islands, the 

 Australian species both endemic, unless one proves really to be the same as a Philippine 

 Island one.— Benth. 



Leaves ovate-acuminate or lanceolate , 1. S. eUiptiea. 



Leaves ovate, obtuse or scarcely acute 2. S. ovata. 



1. S. elliptica (leaves elliptical), R. Br. Prod. 464; Benth. Fl. Austr. iw. 

 327. A rather slender twiner or low straggling shrub, quite glabrous or the 

 inflorescence slightly pubescent. Leaves petiolate, ovate to lanceolate, acuminate, 

 rounded or acute at the base, the veins scarcely conspicuous, 1 to 1^ or rarely 

 2in. long. Cymes shortly pedunculate, several-flowered, but shorter than the 

 leaves, the peduncles and pedicels glabrous or scarcely pubescent. Calyx- 

 segments membranous, orbicular, eiliolate, about ^ line long. Corolla yellow, 

 with a very short tube, nearly rotate, deeply lobed, spreading to about 2 lines 

 diameter, with small introrse auricles or appendages at the base of the lobes. 

 Corona of 5 small laterally compressed segments, adnate to the gynostegium 



