fincetoxicmu] LXXX. ASCLEPIAtJE^. 



1001 



glabrous inside, margins oiliate. Corolla 4 or 5 lines long, contorted in the 

 bud, the lobes twice as long as the tube, thick, and more or less hairy on the 

 inside. Corona composed of 5 free, oblong, apiculate, glossy, thick scales, about 

 1^ line long ; anthers somewhat shorter, but the terminal membrane held in 

 the little point of the corona scale at its back. Pollen-masses oblong, glossy. 

 Stigma minutely 2-Iobed. Fruit not seen. 

 Hab.: Kamerunga, E. Cmoley. 



7. CYNANCHUM, Linn. 

 (Alluding to its poisonous qualities — i.e.; would strangle a dog.) 

 Corolla nearly rotate, deeply divided into 5 lobes contorted in the bud, the 

 right-hand edges usually overlapping. Corona membranous, forming a loose 

 cup or tube round the anthers, the margin 10-lobed with the addition of 5 or 

 10 inner lobes (reduced in C. emhescem to prominent ribs). Anthers terminating 

 in a membrane. Pollen-masses 2 to each anther, pendulous. Stigma short, 

 obtuse, truncate or minutely 2-lobed. — Herbs with twining, trailing or rarely 

 erect stems. Leaves herbaceous, cordate, usually several-nerved at the base. 

 Flowers in the Australian species in loose irregular cymes rarely contracted into 

 umbels (in other species usually umbellate), on solitary interpetiolar peduncles. 



The genus, as limited by Decaisne, is confined to the Old World, extending as far as the 

 Mediterranean region of Europe. The Australian species are all endemic. 



Corona-lobes 10, truncate or crenulate, not exceeding the anthers, and 10 

 inner scarcely prominent keels ... 1. C erubescens. 



Corona-lobes 20, subulate-acuminate, much exceeding the anthers. No. 

 stipule-like leaves 2. C. floribundum. 



Corona-lobes 20, 10 short obtuse denticulate or partially acuminate, and 10 

 inner rather longer acuminate keels. A pair of stipule-like leaves 

 usually at the base of the petioles. Glabrous or the inflorescence 

 minutely pubescent 3. C . pedunculatum. 



1. C. erubescens (flowers reddish), R. Br. Prod. 463; Benth. Fl. Austr. 

 iv. 332. A twiner, slightly pubescent, especially the young shoots and 

 inflorescence, the adult foliage usually glabrous. Leaves petiolate, ovate, 

 deeply cordate with broad rounded auricles, acute, 1 to Sin. long. Flowers 

 having sometimes, but not always, a slight reddish tint, in rather loo^ cymes, 

 the peduncles not much exceeding the petioles. Calyx pubescent, the segments 

 ovate, almost acute, scarcely 1 line long. Corolla pubescent outside, glabrous 

 inside, shortly exceeding the calyx, very deeply divided into ovate lobes. Corona 

 loosely plicate, not exceeding the anthers, the margins shortly 10-lobed, 5 lobes 

 alternating with the anthers rather longeir than the others, thin, truncate or 

 crenulate, each lined with 2 slightly prominent inner keels, 5 opposite the anthers 

 thickened inside, but scarcely or shortly produced into distinct laminae. Follicles 

 'rather broad, acuminate, with prominent almost winged angles, about 2in. long. 

 — Cynoctonum erubescens, Dene, in DC. Prod. viii. 529. 

 Hab.: Endeavour Biver, Banks arid Solander, R. Brown ; Rockingham Bay, Dallachy. 



2. C. floribundum (flowers numerous), R. Br. Prod. 463 ; Benth. Fl. 

 Austr. iv. 332. " Thooromia," Cloncurry, Palmer. Erect or the branches 

 sometimes slightly flexuose or twining, the inflorescence and sometimes the 

 foliage hoary-pubescent, the older leaves usually glabrous. Leaves on rather 

 long petioles, cordate, ovate or lanceolate, acuminate, 1 to 2in. long. Cymes 

 rather dense, rarely contracted to umbels. Calyx-segments ovate-lanceolate, 

 acute, ciliate, about I line long. Corolla deeply divided into lobes of 2 to 3 lines. 

 Corona deeply divided into 20 subulate-acuminate lobes exceeding the anthers, 

 of which 10 outer ones parallel to the gynostegium, and 10 inner at right angles 



