536 ASCLEPIADACB^ — APOCYNAdLffi. 



in all the equinoctial parts of America, they also abound. Authors 

 enumerate 159 genera, including 958 species. Examples — Periploca, 

 Asclepias, Oalotropis, Cynanchum, Gonolobus, Stapelia, Hoya, Dis- 

 chidia. 



The plants of the order have acrid, purgative, emetic, and dia- 

 phoretic properties. The milky juice is usually bitter and acrid, but 

 occasionally it is bland, and is used as mUk, as in the case of 

 Qymnema lactiferum, the Cow-plant of Ceylon. Asclepias tuherosa, 

 the Butterfly-weed, or Pleurisy-root, is used as a cathartic and 

 diaphoretic in North America. The emetic properties of Asclepias 

 curassavica have secured for it the name of Wild Ipecacuanha in the 

 West IndieSi The leaves of Solenostemma (Cynanchum) Argel are 

 used to adulterate Alexandrian Senna. The fragrant roots of Remi- 

 desmus indicus are used in Madras as a substitute for SarsaparUla, 

 under the name of Country Sarza. It is also called Nanniri, or 

 Ananto-miil. The bark of the root of several species of Oalotropis, 

 such as C. procera ' (Hamiltonii), and gigantea, furnish the substance 

 called Mudar, which is used as a diaphoretic in India. It contains a 

 principle called Mudarine, which gelatinises on being heated, and 

 becomes fluid on cooling. Cynanchum mmispeliacum furnishes Mont- 

 pellier Scammony, and Periploca mauritiana is the source of Bourbon 

 Scammony. Both of these substances act as purgatives, and are used 

 to adulterate true Scammony. Marsdenia tinctoria and Gymnema 

 tingens are said to yield a dye similar to indigo. The mUky juice of 

 many of the plants contains caoutchouc in its composition. The root 

 of Tylophora asthmatica, an Indian plant naturalised in the Mauritius, 

 is used as country or Indian Ipecacuanha. Hoya carnosa receives the 

 name of wax-flower from the peculiar aspect of its blossoms. Dischidia 

 Rafflesiana, an, Indian climber, has remarkable ascidia (p. 100). The 

 Stapelias are singular plants, resembling some of the Cactuses and 

 Euphorbias. Their blossoms are often very fetid, and^hence they are 

 called Carrion flowers. Some of the species of Asclepias receive the 

 name of Wild Cotton, on account of the hairs attached to their seeds. 

 Gomphocarpus fruticosus is the silk plant of Madeira. 



Order 117. — Apocynace^, the Dogbane Family. {Monopet. 

 Hypog.) Calyx usually 5-partite, persistent. OoroUa hypogynous, 

 gamopetalous, regular, usually 5-lobed, deciduous ; sestivation con- 

 torted, twisting in some cases to the right, in others to the left. 

 Stamens 5, inserted on the corolla, alternate with its segments ; fila- 

 ments distinct ; anthers 2-ceUed, dehiscing longitudinally ; poUen 

 granular, globose, or 3-lobed, immediately applied to the stigma. 

 Ovaries 2, and each unilocular, or 1, and bilocular ; ovules 00 ; styles 

 2 or 1 ; stigma 1, with a contraction in the middle. Fruit follicular 

 or capsular, or drupaceous or baccate, double or single. Seeds 00, 

 rarely definite, usually pendulous ; albumen cartilaginous or fleshy, 



