168 pENTAxnniA digtkia 



with subulate bra*ts at base. Calyx -segments lanec-ovatc, acute, about halfaslong 

 as the tube of the corolla. Corolla pale red, or reddish white with purple strifes* 

 oampanulatc, with 5 ovate acuminate membranaceous scales adnate to the inner 

 surface of the tube, near the base, with the points free ; limb spreading ; lobes lan- 

 ce-ovate, rather acute, recurved. Ovaries distinct, surrounded at base by 5 ovate 

 rather obtuse flatted tooth-like glands ; stigmas united into one, large, fleshy an! 

 dilated. Fbllicles about 4 inches long, terete, slender, smooth, attenuated at apex. 

 Seeds Imbricated, about one fourth of an inch long, brown, linear, very narrow, 

 somewhat compressed, acute at base, truncate at apex, crowned with a long 

 white silky pappus* 

 Hub. Borders of woods ; fence-rows, &c. frequent. Fl. June. Fr. Sept. 



Obs. This is commonly described as having the leaves smooth on both sides- 

 hut I have rarely found them so. They are sometimes quite hoary-pubescentbaa 

 neath,— and somewhat variable also in form. 



2. A. CANXABixi'M, L. Leaves lanceolate, or lance-oblong, acute at 

 each end ; cymes paniculate, many-flowered ; calyx as long as the tube 

 of the corolla ; limb erect. Beck, Bot. p. 234. 

 Hemp Ajfocyhuh. Vulgd— Indian Hemp. 



Root perennial. Stem 2 to 4 feet high, herbaceous, erect, smooth, purple, a little 

 glaucous, with rather erect branches. Leaves & to 4 or 6 inches long, and half an 

 inch to an inch, or inch and half wide, varying from ovate-lanceolate to elliptic, 

 and linear-oblong, acute* or conspicuously mucronate, mostly acute at base, smooth 

 above, more or less pubescent beneath ; petioles one fourth to half an inch long. 

 Floxcers numerous, rather smaller than the preceding j cymes somewhat panicu- 

 late, one frequently dichotomal near the summit ; pedicels v* ith lance-linear bracts 

 at base. Calyx-segments lanceolate, acute about as long as the tube of the corob 

 la. CoroZ/a mostly greenish while (sometimes tinged with red), campanulalc / limb 

 erect; lobes rather obtuse. Follicles about as long as the preceding, but more 

 slender. 

 Ilab. Borders of woodlands; Mica-slate hills : not common. Fl. Aug. Fr. Octo. 



Obs. There seems to \>e several varieties which may be referable to this species, 

 and some which appear to be almost intermediate between it and the preceding, lu 

 lome instances the leaves are quite smooth on both sides,— though they are gener- 

 ally pubescent beneath. I have been much puzzled by some of our specimens, un. 

 der the impression that the K.pubescens y Br. might be among them ; but I cannot 

 find characters enough for more than two species. The bark of this is said to af- 

 ford a strong fibre, like that of Hemp. One or two additional species have boos 

 enumerated in the U. States. 



129. ASCLEPIAS. /,. JVW*. Gen. 243. 

 [The Greek name of JEsculapius ; to whom this genus is dedicated.] 



Galt/x much smaller than the corolla, 5-parted ; segments lanceolate. 

 Gorolla 5-parted ; lobes lance-oblong, reflexed. Lepanthium (Nec- 

 tary, L.) 5-pavted ; segments erect, somewhat cucullate, each mostly 

 with an internal subulate incurved process, or little horn. JlntKcridi* 

 um (connate mass of anthers) 5-angled, pyramidal, truncate, 5-lobed, 

 #r opening on the winged angles by 5 longitudinal fissures. Pollhi- 

 in (masses of pollen) 5 distinct pairs, compressed, pyriform, pendulous 

 m the cells of the anthers. Ovaries 2, concealed in the tub© of the 

 Bepanthium, 1 of them mostly abortive. Follicles muricate, or unarm* 

 ffi. (Seeds compressed, margined, imbricated, comose. 



