CXLV. ASCLEPIADE^. 



551 



OTaries of many genera. They are connected with Subiacecs through Loganiaoets. They are allied to 

 OleinecB by their woody stem, opposite leaves, Dostivation and hypogynous corolla, and by their genera 

 with a 2-celled ovary, single style, anatropous ovule, dry or fleshy fruit, and albuminous embryo ; but the 

 Oteinece have an anisostemonous corolla, 



Apom/necB principally inhabit the intertropical zone of the Old and New Worlds, especially Asia 

 beyond the equator. They are [comparatively] rare in extra-tropical hot and temperate regions. Most of 

 the species possess a milky juice, often rich iu india-rubber {CoUophora uUlii); this juice is sometimes 

 bitter and employed as a purgative or febrifuge, or depurative (Allamanda cathartica, Cafissa xylopicron, 

 Plumiera tM^ ; sometimes acrid and very poisonous (Tanghinia venenifltta, Cerbera Ahoitai) ; sometimes 

 mild, scarcely bitter, and simply laxative (C'erSera sctlutaris) ; finally, sometimes acid-sweet or unctuous, 

 and much sought as food (^Carissa Carandas, C edulia, Carpodinus dulcis, Ambelania Pacouna, Couma, 

 Taberneemontanq utilis, &c.). [Other india-rubber yielding genera are WiUughbeia in India, Vahea in 

 Madagascar, Haneoitiia in Brazil, Urceola in the Malay Peninsula, and Landolphia in West Africa. Tan- 

 ghinia, the Ordeal-tree of Madagascar, is the most poisonous of plants, a seed no larger than an almond 

 suiEces to kill twenty people. Oleander wood, flowers, and leaves are veiy poisonous ; death has followed 

 using its wood as meat-skewers ; an infusion of its leaves is an active insecticide, and its bark a rat- 

 poison ; that of Wrightia antidyseniei-ica is a valuable Indian astringent and febrifuge. W. tinctona 

 leaves yield an indigo, and W. tomentosa a yellow dye. Edible fruits are produced by WiUughbeia edulis 

 and Urceola elastica. The wood of Aktonia scholaris is a bitter powerful tonic, much used in India. — Ed.] 



CXLV. ASCLEPIADE^. 



(Apoctneaeum: pars, A.-L. de Jussieu. — AscLBPiADE.a), Jacquini 

 — AscLEPiADACE^, Lindl.) 



Corolla hypogynous, regular, 5-Jid, isostemonous, cestivation usually contofted. 

 Stamens inserted on the corolla, usually cohering in a tube; anthebs introrse, 2—4- 

 celled ; pollen agglutinated in as many masses as there are cells. OarpeLS 2 ; ovaries 

 distinct ; styles juxtaposed, united by a common stigma ; oVuleS pendulous, anatro- 

 pous. Fkuit follicular. Embryo albuminous. — Leaves opposite. Juice milky. 



Woody, rarely herbaceous plants, usually climbing and milky ; stem and branches 



Asclepias. 

 Flower (mag.). 



AsctepittS, 

 Diagram, sbowing the feiation of the 

 appendages to the anthers, aud that 

 ot the anthets to the stigmatio cor- 

 puBcules. 



Asclepias. . 

 P.'etil bearing pollSn- 

 znasses (mag.). 



Asclepids. 

 Stamen furnished 



with its 

 appendages (mag.). 



