Pentatropis.] LXXX. ASCLEPIADE J), 1003 



near the top of the filaments, the inner (or upper) one of 5 adnata segments more 

 or less saccate or inflated at the base, the erect points adnate and sometimes 

 produced beyond the anthers. Anthers terminating in a small membrane, 

 Pollen-masses 2 to each anther, oblong or olavate, pendulous. Stigma short. — 

 Twiners. Leaves herbaceous, linear in the Australian species. Flowers in 

 simple umbels on solitary interpetiolar peduncles. 

 The genus is spread over tropical Asia and Africa. The Queensland species is endemic. 



1. P. atropurpurea (dark-purple flowers), Benth. Fl. Austr. iv. 329. 

 A slender glabrous twiner. Leaves linear with revolute margins, tapering into 

 a short petiole, 1 to 2in. long. Flowers dark-purple, in simple or irregularly 

 compound umbels on short peduncles, the pedicels about ^in. long. Calyx- 

 segments narrow, about 1 line long. Corolla almost rotate, divided to about the 

 middle into broad acute lobes, spreading to about 4 lines diameter. Outer 

 corona a scarcely prominent undulate ring at the top of the very short filaments ; 

 inner corona of ' 5 segments adnate to the back of the anthers, inflated but 

 scarcely saccate at the lower end, the upper end an adnate point shortly produced 

 beyond the anthers. Follicles 2 to 3in. long, not acuminate. — Rhyncharrfiena 

 atropurpurea, P. v. M. Fragm. i. 128. 



Hab.: Suttor desert, F. v, Mueller. 



10. GYMNEMA, R. Br. 



(Filaments naked.) 

 (Bidaria, Endl.) 

 Corolla with a short broad tube, the limb spreading, divided into 5 lobes, 

 contorted in the bud. Corona none or reduced to 5 scarcely prominent pro- 

 tuberances at the base of the gynostegium. Anthers terminating in a membrane. 

 Pollen-masses 2 to each anther, obovoid or oblong erect. Stigma short and 

 obtuse or conical, or rarely elongated. — Stems erect or twining. Leaves 

 herbaceous. Flowers small, umbellate, the umbels either solitary or 2 together 

 on short interpetiolar peduncles or axillary and opposite. 



The genus is dispersed over the tropical and subtropiual regions of the Old World. Of the 4 

 Australian species, one is a common East Indian one, the others are endemic. 



Sect. I. G]riniieina> — Corolla with small scales in the throat alternating with the lobes. 

 No corona. 



Leaves ovate to ovate-lanceolate. Umbels mostly in pairs 1. G. sylvestre. 



Leaves ovate, shortly acuminate, with many superficial glands at ihe base. 

 Umbels mostly solitary ... . . . 2. G. pleiadenium. 



Sect. IL Bidaria. — Corolla without scales in the throat. Corona none or oj very obscure 

 glands at the base of the gynostegium. 



Leaves ovate, J to lin. long 3. G. brevifolium. 



Leaves oval-oblong or lanceolate, ] to 2in. long, the veins very oblique . . 4. G. trinerve. 



1. G. sylvestre (forest plant), R. Br. in Trmu. Wern. Soc. i. 3<J ; Benth. 

 Fl. Austr. iv. 342. A twiher, either softly-pubescent all over or the upper side 

 of the leaves nearly or quite glabrous. Leaves petiolate, from broadly ovate to 

 ovate-lanceolate, shortly acuminate, rounded or rarely contracted, or almost 

 cordate at the base, obliquely penniveined, 1 to 2in; long. Umbels usually 2 

 together on very short peduncles. Pedicels 1 to 2 lines long. Calyx-segments 

 broad, very obtuse, under 1 line long. Corolla very shortly exceeding the calyx, 

 divided to about the middle into ovate lobes, with scales in the throat alternating 

 with the lobes and decurrent halfway down the tube. No corona. Stigma 



