ttiUBadB Si&lHt&o 



ASCLEPIAS QUADRIFOLIA. 



FOUR-LEAVED SWALLOW-WORT. 



Pentandria Dig-ynia, Linn. Apocyncx, Juss. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Calix small, 5-parted, persistent. Corolla rotate, mostly reflected. Lepanthhim sim- 

 ple, 5-parted. Segments ovate, cucullate, each producing from its base an in- 

 ternal subulate averted awn. Anthcrideum 5-parted, crustaceous, sessile, angles 

 opening by five longitudinal chinks. Follicles 2, ventricose, acuminate, smooth 

 or muricate. Seed comose. Nutt. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



Stem erect, simple, smooth ; leaves ovate, acute, petiolated ; in the middle of the 

 stem, the large ones in four's ; umbels two, terminal, loose-flowered ; pedicels 

 filiform. Jacquin. 



Stem twelve or fifteen inches high, smooth, simple, erect, yellow, 

 terete, convoluted, striated and reddish below. Leaves ovate, acute; 

 four in a whorl at the middle of the stem, of which two are generally 



VOL. II. 5 



