CXLV. ASCLEPIADE^. 653 



liform or terete, tube and throat furnished within with scales ; limb contorted- 

 imbricate or rarely valvate in aestivation. Stamens 6, inserted at the bottom of the 

 corolla, and alternate with its segments ; filaments flattened, usually united in a 

 tubular column surrounding the ovary, and furnished behind the anther with a crown 

 with various appendages ; anthers introrse or lateral, 2-celled, generally cohering in 

 a tube ; cells back to back, parallel, sometimes divided by a septum, opening by a 

 longitudinal or apical slit, rarely transverse {Gonolobus) ; pollen agglutinated into a 

 mass ; pollen-masses (pollmia) pendulous [Asclepias) or horizontal {Gonolobus) or 

 erect (Stapelia), either one for each cell, or united in pairs belonging to two con- 

 tiguous cells, fusiform, envelopfed in an oily matter, and adhering to the glandular 

 prominences of the stigma. Ovaeies 2, distinct, placentas nerviform, on ventral 

 sutures ; styles usually very short, closely appressed, and united by the common 

 stigma ; stigma with 5 rounded angles, their bases alternate with the anthers, and 

 provided with cartilaginous eoi'puscules, or with a gland which retains the poUinia ; 

 ovules numerous, anatropous, pendulous, multiseriate. Follicles 2, sometimes 1 by 

 arrest, on a placenta which detaches itself when ripe. Seeds numerous, compressed, 

 imbricate, often comose. Embkto straight, in the axis of a fleshy albumen, rarely 

 exalbuminous ; radicle superior. 



[The following arrangement is that of Decaisne, in De Candolle's "Pro- 

 dromus." 



Sub-order I. PEEiPLOCEJi. — Filaments more or less distinct ; anthers with. 20-10 pollinia, 

 free, or applied to the top of the stigma; pollen of 3-4 grains. (Asiatic and African). *Peri- 

 ploca, Semidesmus, Sireptoccndon. 



Sub-order II. Secamon.s). — Filaments coherent; anthers 4-oelled ; pollinia 20, applied in 

 fours to the top of the corpuscules of the stigma. (Asiatic and African). Secamone, Toxo- 

 carpus. 



Sub-order III. Euasclbpiade.!!. — Filaments coherent ; anthers 2-ceIled ; pollinia 10, fixed 

 in pairs to the prominences of the stigma; separated by a longitudinal furrow. 



Division I. Astephanj!. — Throat of the corolla without scales. Staminal corona 

 (African and American). Asiephanus, &c. 



Division II. Mickolomj!. — Throat of the corolla furnished with fleshy scales. Staminal 

 crown 0. (African and Arabian). Microloma, &c. 



Division III. HAPLOSTEMiia:. — Staminal crown simple, of 6 segments ; segments inserted at 

 the base of the gynostegium, simple, entire or 2-fid. Metastelma, Boulinia, Acerates, Vinee- 

 toxieum, R'aplostemma, &c. 



Division IV. CtnoctOnj!.— Throat of the corolla naked. Staminal crown simple, cup- 

 shaped or tubular, mouth sub-entire or lohed. Orthosia, *Gynoetonum, Holostemma, *Amuja, &o. 



Division V. SaecostemiM. — Throat of the corolla naked. Staminal crown usually double ; 

 outer short, innate-lobed ; inner of 5 segments, which are fleshy or ligulate or more or less 

 rounded and tumid. Oalotropis, Pentatropis, Sarcostemma, Dcemia, &c. 



Division VI. Eustegijj.— Throat of the corolla naked. Staminal crown campanulate, 

 double or triple ; segments more or less connate below, opposite or alternate, produced into a 

 linear appendage, surrounding the sessile or stipitate gynostegium. Eustegia, Gijnanchum, &c. 



