PEEIPLOCA 



STEPHANOTIS OBDEB 



ASCLEPIAS 647 



Calyx inferior, 5-lobed. Corolla gamopetalous, rotate, bell-shaped, rarely 

 funnel- or salver-shaped. Stamens 5, free, or often united in a tube round 

 the stigma. Pollen waxy — a peculiarity of this order and the Orchid family 

 (p. 890). 



This order contains about 150 genera and 1300 species, mostly natives of 

 the tropics and sub-tropics, especially S. Africa, and only a few are hardy or 

 worth growing in the open air in the British Islands. 



PERIPLOCA(SiLK Vine).— A genus 

 containing about 12 species of smooth 

 erect or twining shrubs with opposite 

 leaves, and loose axillary or terminal 

 cymes of flowers, which are purple or 

 blackish inside, greenish outside. Calyx 

 .5-parted. CoroUa rotate, deeply 5-cleft, 

 having a corona of 5 awned scales in the 

 throat. Stamens attached inside the 

 corona, filaments fi?ee. Pollen in masses, 

 granular. Follicles cylindrical, smooth. 

 Seed feathery, or silky -haired. 



P. graeca. — A quick-growing shrubby 

 climber, native of S.E. Europe, Asia 

 Minor &c., with leaves 3-4 in. long, and 

 varying from ovate to lance-shaped. 

 Flowers in July, greenish outside, blackish- 

 brown within, densely covered with short 

 hairs ; corymbs on long stalks, emitting a 

 somewhat disagreeable odour. 



Culture and Propagation. — This 

 plant is useful for covering walls, arbours, 

 trellises, and such-like structures, during 

 the spring, summer, and autumn months, 

 but as the stems die down every winter, 

 it is useless as a winter covering. It 

 grows in ordinary garden soil, and may 

 be increased by layers or cuttings, the 

 latter being taken during the summer, 

 and inserted in sandy soil under glass. 



ASCLEPIAS (Swallow Wort).— A 

 genus containing about 60 species of erect 

 perennial herbs with opposite, verticiUate, 

 or rarely scattered leaves, usually with 

 distinct transverse veins and flowers in 

 simple, terminal, or extra-axUlary umbels. 

 Calyx 5-parted with 5-10 glands inside. 

 Corolla rotate or reflexed with age, deeply 

 5-cleft, and having a corona of 5 scales 

 attached to the staminal tube. Stamens 

 on the base of the corolla. PoUen 

 masses 10, waxy. FoUicles usually 2, 

 thickish, pointed. Seeds sUky. 



Culture a/nd Propagation. — Only a 

 few species are of garden value, and may 

 be grown in peat or light rich soil in the 

 flower border. They are increased by 

 dividing the roots in spring, and some- 



times by seeds sown at the same period 

 in cold frames or greenhouses. 



A. acuminata. — A native of New 

 Jersey, about 2 ft. high. Leaves shortly 

 stalked, ovate or somewhat cordate, 

 pointed. Flowers in July, red and white, 

 in soUtary erect lateral umbels. 



Culture dc. as above. 



A. amoena. — A New England species 

 2-3 ft. high, recognised by having 2 rows 

 of down on the stems. Leaves nearly 

 sessile, oblong-oval, downy beneath, with 

 a large purphsh midrib. Flowers in July, 

 rich purple, with the red scales of the 

 corona protruding in the centre. 



Culture dc. as above. 



A. Douglasi. — A vigorous handsome 

 N.W. American perennial with thick 

 woolly simple stems, 2-3 ft. high, and 

 shortly stalked ovate heart-shaped, taper- 

 ing pointed leaves, over 6 in. long, smooth 

 above, downy beneath. Flowers in sum- 

 mer, large, waxy, sweet-scented, purple- 

 lilac, in many-flowered umbels. 



Culture do. as above. Sandy loam in 

 the border or semi- wild parts. 



A. incarnata. — A Canadian perennial 

 with erect branching stems, somewhat 

 downy towards the top. Leaves lanoe- 

 shaped, rather woolly on both surfaces. 

 Flowers in July, red or purplish, in 

 numerous umbels. 



Culture da. as above. This species 

 deKghts in moist soil by the margins of 

 lakes, streams, ponds &c. 



A. phytolaccoides. — A vigorous species 

 3-4 ft. high, native of the mountains of 

 Virginia and Carolina, having purple- 

 spotted stems and broad ovate-oblong 

 acute leaves, smooth shining green above, 

 paler beneath. Flowers in July, purple, 

 with a white corona or crown in the 

 centre. 



Culture Sc, as above. 



A. purpurascens (A. hyhrida). — A 

 pretty perennial 2-3 ft. high, native of 



