Eodysanthera.] APOCYNACEiB. 233 



like those of Poitsia cmtonieniis, ovate, obtusely acuminate, 2 to 3 in. long, 

 on petioles off ^ in. or more, smooth and shining above and not glaucous un- 

 derneath. Panicles terminal or in the upper axils, trichotomous, broad and 

 loose. Flowers numerous, much smaller than in E. rosea,, the corolla scarcely 

 above 1 line long and more broadly campanulate. Disk annular, shorter than 

 the carpels and slightly. 5-crenate. 



Hongkong, Wright. Also Khasia, Assam, aud Sikldm, tie broader leaves of the Hongkong 

 specimens, and the flowers perhaps not quite so small, give them a rather different look from 

 the Indian ones ; bnt on a careful comparative examination I can find nothjlig else to sepa- 

 rate them. 



Ordeii lxxi. ASCLEPIADE^. 



Sepals 5, free or slightly united at the base, imbricate in the bud. Corolla 

 5-lobed, usually rotate or broadly eampanulate, with a very, short tube, more 

 rarely with a lengthened tube and erect or spreading lobes, valvate or con- 

 torted in the bud. Stamens B, inserted at the very base of the tube ; the 

 short filaments connate in a tube (cglled the gyrpodegiuvi) enclosing the pistil. 

 Anthers erect, 3-celled or rarely almost 4-celled, opening inwards, each cell 

 containing usually a single globular oblong or linear pollen-mas§ ; those of 

 the' adjoining cells (of different anthers) attaching themselves in pairs, or ip 

 fours, to 5 proeesses of the stigma ; the anther usually terminating beyarvd 

 the cells in a small membrane or point. Outside the stamens is often a s<?- 

 caHed staminal. corona, consisting either of 5 scales alternating with the lobes 

 of the coroUa, or of a ring at its base, or more frequently a 54obed wing at- 

 tfliched to the staminal tube, each lobe at the back of an anther, and having 

 often an appendage inside it, Ovary of 2 distinct carpels with short styles 

 united at the top. Stigma usually a flat pentagonal disk, sometimes termi- 

 nating in a cone or long point, bearing at it^ angles the little processes to 

 which the poUen-masses are attached, and which fall off with them. Qvulqs 

 numerous. Fruit qonsisUng of 2 follicles (or a single one by the abortion of 

 the other). Seeds several, terminating usually in a coma or tuft of silky hairs. 

 Albumen thin. Embryo straight.- — Hei:bs, twiners, or rarely shrubs or even 

 trees ; the juice frequently milky, Leaves opposite, very rarely whorled or 

 alteraate, entire. Flowers nsua'Uy small, in axiU^iy or l@,tei'aj» qr more fre- 

 quently dnterpetiolar (i, e, on one side between the petioles) cymes, racemes or 

 umbels, rarely large and showy. 



A latrge Order, chiefly tropical, with ji few e^tratropieal species ag tfell ii» the New as the 

 Old World, and in both the northern and southern hemispheres. 



Corolla with a cylindrical tube-^bove \ in. long and «preadiiig lpb?s . 6. 5TEPH;AffOTis. 

 Corolla rotate, or campanulate, or urceojate. 

 CoroUa-lobes narrow-linear. 



Stem twining. Staminal crown of S scales at the back of the an- 

 thers with internal appendages. PoUen-masses 4 to each anther 1. Toxocabpus. 

 Stem erect. Scales B, altern9.ting with the oqrcill^lp^e?, PoUen- 



masses 2 to each aiither . . 8. Pentasacms. 



Cgrolla-lobes ovate. 

 Leaves thick and fleshy. 



CoroUa small , with a globular tube of 1 line, and very ^ort 



lobes . .... 9. BiscHiDiA. 



