124 Milkweed ( A sclepiadacece ) . [No. 17 



united toward the base. Style, one. Stigma, one. 

 Seed-case, free, one-celled, few-seeded. July, Sep- 

 tember. 



-Leaves, simple, opposite, entire, rounded, dotted, smooth, 

 very short-stemed. Base, somewhat heart-shape. 

 Apex, rounded. 



Fruit, rounded, one-celled, few-seeded. A capsule. 



Found, in damp ground escaped from gardens. 



A trailing herbaceous vine very common in cultivation, 

 especially in old gardens. Introduced from Europe. 



" It is reported that if serpents be hurted or wounded, 

 they do heal themselves with this herbe, whereupon came 

 the name serpentaria. ... It is called nummularia, 

 of the form of money, whereunto the leaves are like." 

 — Gerard's Herball. 



No. 17.— Family ASCLEPIADACE^. (Milkweed 



Fam.) 



Flowers, in axillary clusters. Petals, five, united. Sepals, 

 five, united. Stamens, five, united throughout (ex- 

 cept in Periploca Grseca, where the filaments are dis- 

 tinct). Anthers, adhering to and covering the stigma. 

 Styles, two. Seed-cases, two, free from the calyx, 

 covered by the united stamens ; many-seeded. 



.Leaves, simple, opposite, entire, without stipules. 



.Fruit, one-celled, many-seeded, opening on one edge. A 

 follicle. 



Plants with milky juice. 



