998 LXXX. ASCLEPIADE^. [Sccamme. 



at the base, with free incurved falcate points considerably shorter than the 

 gvnostegium. Follicles divaricate, 2 to 2|in. long, tapering into a long point. 

 —Dene, in DC. Prod. viii. 504 ; S. emetica, F. v. M. Fragm. v. 161, not of B,. Br. 

 Hab.: Islands of the Gulf of Carpentaria, R. Brown; Port Curtis, M'GUlivray ; PortDenison 

 Fitzalan; Fitzroy Elver, Boivman; Rockingham Kay, Dallachy ; Eockhampton, O'Shanesy ; 

 Moreton Bay, F. v. Mueller, Stuart; Peak Downs, F. v. Mueller; Mackenzie River, 

 Leichhardt. 



2 ? S. ovata (leaves ovate), R. Br. Prod. ^Qi ; Benth. Fl. Austr. iv. 328. 

 Of this Mr. Benthani only saw a single specimen in R. Brown's herbarium, of 

 which the flowers were absent. It appears to be distinct in its broader more 

 ovate and obtuse or scarcely acute leaves, which are shortly petiolate, 1 to 

 IJin. long. — Dene, in DC. Prod. viii. 504. 



Hab.: Islands of the Gulf of Carpentaria, B. Brown. 



The species must remain very doubtful until it shall be again observed. — Benth. 



3. *ARAUJ1A, Brot. 

 (After Antonio de Araujo, a great promoter of botany in Portugal.) 

 Calyx 5-parted, eglandulous inside, segments foliaeeous ; corolla hypocrateri- 

 form or almost infundibuliform, with 5 swellings outside at the base and a 

 corresponding number of cavities inside ; limb slightly spreading and 5-lobed. 

 Corona adnate to the base of the corolla ; anthers terminated by a membrane ; 

 pollen-masses pendulous, fixed by their taperiiag tops. Stigma ovate, 2-horned 

 at the apex. Follicles ovate, ventricose, bent downwards, semi-bilocular, thick, 

 coriaceous, smooth or at length tuberculose-muricate. Seeds comose, adhering 

 to the lamellsB of the dessepiment. — Twining plants, hoary or hirsute. Leaves 

 opposite. Cymes few-flowered. Flowers whitish or rose-coloured. 



1. A., albens (plant whitish), G. Don. (Physianthus aliens, Mart.) A 

 twiner, with ovate or lanceolate leaves 2 or Bin. long, truncate or cordate at 

 the base, and acute at the apex, white underneath as well as the young shoots. 

 Flowers in subdichotomously branched cymes ; pedicels about 7 lines long, 

 calyx-segments broad, leafy. Corolla with a broad tube and a 5-lobed limb. 

 Corona of 5 fleshy segments attached to the corolla-tube at the base, the upper 

 portion hood-shaped or convex with revolute margins. Pollen-masses pendulous. 

 Follicle glaucous, thick, oval, 2J to Sin. long, and 2in. in diameter. 



Hab.: A native of South Brazil, naturalised about the Brisbane River and Darling Downs. 



4. *GOMPHOCARPUS, R. Br. 



(From the club-shaped fruit.) 



Calyx 5-parted. Corolla rotate, 5-parfced, mostly reflexed. Corona 5-parted, 

 erect or suberect, as long as the gynostegium or much longer, complicate-cucuUate, 

 laterally compressed, the margins strongly inflexed, the inflexion greatest above, 

 where the angles are often salient, directed towards the stigma ; apex either 

 truncate or variously twisted. Antliers membrane-tipped. Pollinia compressed, 

 pendulous, taper-pointed or truncate. Stigma pointless. Follicles ventricose, 

 bearing soft shred-like processes. Seeds comose. — Erect shrubs or undersbrubs 

 with opposite leaves. 



Mostly belonging to Africa. 



1. G. brasiliensis (of Brazil), Foumier. Mart. Fl. Bras. vi. 203 t. 53. 



An erect herbaceous shrub from 4 to 6ft. high, at first hoary, afterwards 

 glabrous. Leaves linear-lanceolate, 3 to 5in. long and about |in. broad, 



