654 CXLV. ASCLEPIADE^. 



Division VII. Asglepiadj!. — Throat of the corolla naked. Staminal crown of .5 segments ; 

 segments concave or hooded, inserted at the base, rarely at the top, of the gynostegium, with 

 often a ligulate appendage on the inner face, or thickened in the middle and then toothed at 

 the side. Gomjphocarpus, *Asclapias, iScc. 



Division VIII. DitasSjE. — Staminal column compound, of 2 opposite series, linear, equal 

 or the outer ovate and minutely toothed. (America. Shrubs ; flowers small, hoary within). 

 Ditassa, Tassadia, &c. 



Division IX. Oxtpetalji. — Staminal crown adnate to the corolla-tube, tubular or of 5 

 segments; segments simple or toothed internally. PoUinia fixed to a broad geniculate process. 

 Stigmatic capsule linear, often horned or spurred at the base ; stigma long, often dilated, 

 truncate or deeply 2-7-fld. (Perennial twining American plants). *Oxypetalum, &c. 



Sub-order IV. Gonolob^. — Filaments connate. Anthers 2-celled, dehiscence transverse. 

 Pollinia 10, horizontal, fixed in pairs to a longitudinal bipartite furrow of the stigmatic process ; 

 tips usually pellucid and hidden under the depressed stigma. (Perennial twining American 

 herbs). *Oonol6bus, Fischeria, &c. 



Sub-order V. Stapelm. — Pilamenfcs connate ; anthers usually terminated by a simple 

 membrane. Pollinia 10, ascending or erect, fixed in pairs to the stigmatic process, opaque at 

 both ends, or pellucid at the sides or above. (Twining plants, often fleshy herbs, of the Old 

 World). 



• Division I. Peegulabiji. — Pollinia opaque at both ends. Tylophora, Marsdenia, Pergu- 

 laria, *8tephanotis, Oym/nema, Sarcolohus, &c. 



Division' II. Ceeopegij!. — Polhnia pellucid at the top or side. Leptadenia, Bischidia, 

 *IIoya, *Ceropegia, Boucerosia, Muernia, *Stapel{a, &o. — ^Ed.] 



Asclepitidees were formerly placed in the same family aa Apocynecs ; the exceptional structure of the 

 pollen and stigma, however, separates them, as do the usually coherent filaments. P&'iplocece, however, 

 by their nearly free filaments connect the two families. Their aflSnity with Gentianece is less than that 

 oi Apocynece, some genera of which have their carpels united into a l-S-celled ovary. 



Asclepiadece inhabit the same countries as Apocynece ; the fleshy species all belong to the Old World, 

 and especially to South AMca. Their medicinal properties reside in their milky juice ; some are emetics 

 (Vincetoxicum officinale, Gomphocarpus crispits, Secamone emetica, &c.) ; others are purgative (jCynanchum 

 monapelienae, Solenostemma Arghel) ; some are sudorifics {Hemidesmus indicits) ; the acrid milky juice of 

 others is used to poison arrows (Gonolohts maorophyllus), or wolves {Periploca grtBcd), whence the names 

 of Wolf s-hane and Dog's-hane, given to several species. In others, again, the milk has no acridity, and is 

 alimentary {Gymnema laetiferum, the Cow-plant of Ceylon, and the Cape Oxystelma esculentum). 



[The Asclepias decumbens of Virginia causes perspiration without increase of animal heat, and is used 

 in pleurisy. A. tuberosa is a mild cathartic ; A. curassavica is the well-known American Wild Ipecacuanha, 

 an emetic and purgative. Tylophora asthmatica is one of the most useful medicines in India as a cure for 

 dysentery. Sarcostemma glaucum is the Ipecacuanha of Venezuela. Cynanchum acutum is the Montpellier 

 Scammony. Calotropis gigantea yields Mudar, a celebrated Indian drug, a tonic, alterative and pur- 

 gative ; the root of Hemidesmus indicus is in no less repute as a substitute for Sarsaparilla, 



Some Indian species yield most tenacious fibres, as Marsdenia tenacissima, Orthanthera viminea, and 

 Calotropis gigantea ; others dyes, as Marsdenia tinetoria ; and, lastly, others a good Caoutchouc] 



