430 ORDER LXXIX. ASCLEPIADACEJE. 



1. S. vul'garts, (L.) Leaves cordate or ovate-cordate, smooth, oppo- 

 site, petiolate. Flowers in a terminal thyrse, sweet-scented. — Various 

 shades of purple. Persia. Common in yards. 4 — 12 feet. 



Common Lilac. 



Several other species have been introduced ; the Persian Lilac, S. Persica, with 

 blue flowers, varying in color, and entire or pinnatifid leaves, is the most common, 

 and is a smaller plant than the preceding. 



Genus V.— LIGUSTRUM. Tourn. 2—1. 

 (From ligo, to bind, from the use made of its branches.) 



Calyx short, tubular. Corolla funnel-form, 4-lobed, the 

 lobes ovate, obtuse. Stamens 2, included. Fruit a berry, 2- 

 celled, 1 — 2-seeded. 



1. L. vulga're, (L.) A shrub. Leaves entire, on short petioles, broad- 

 lanceolate, smooth, thick. Flowers in terminal panicles. Berry black. 

 — White. April — May. Europe. Naturalized. Privet or Prim. 



Order LXXIX.— ASCLEPIADA'CE^E. (Asclepias Family.) 



Calyx 5-cleft, persistent. Corolla hypogynous, 5-lobed, aes- 

 tivation intricate. Stamens 5 ; filaments connate. Anthers 2- 

 celled. Pollen in masses, adhering to the processes of the 

 stigma. Ovaries 2. Styles 2. Stigma 1, dilated, with 5 

 processes ; placentae attached to the suture. Follicles 1 or 2. 

 Seeds numerous, imbricate, comose. Plants with a milky juice, 

 sometimes twining. [This order includes the Oleander, JVerium 

 oleander, and the Periwinkles, Vinca minor^\ 



Genus I.— ENSLE'NIA. Nutt. 

 (In honor of A. Enslen, an Austrian botanist.) 



Calyx 5-parted. Corolla 5-parted, sub-rotate ; lobes erect ; 

 crown 5-leaved ; leaves membranaceous, free, upper margin trun- 

 cate or lobed at the apex, with a pair of flexuous awns. An- 

 thers terminated by one erect membrane ; pollen masses oblong, 

 attached below the apex. Follicles cylindrical, smooth, oblong- 

 lanceolate. Seeds silky. 



1. E. al'bida, (Nutt.) A twining herb, smooth. Leaves large, ovate- 

 cordate, petioles long. Flowers in racemose clusters, on slender axilla- 

 ry peduncles. — River banks. July — Sept. 8 — 12 feet. 



Genus II.— PODOSTIG'MA. Ell. 

 (From pons, foot, and stigma, from its shape.) 



Calyx 5-parted. Corolla 5-parted ; lobes oblong, concave, 

 erect. Staminal crown 5-leaved ; leaves short, concave. An- 

 thers terminated by a membrane; pollen masses attached at 

 the apex, compressed. Follicles smooth. 



