ORDEJt LXXIX. ASCLEPIAJDACE.E. 431 



1. P. pubes'cens, (Ell.) Stem erect, terete, pubescent. Leaves op- 

 posite, ovate or linear-oblong ; umbels on short peduncles, few-flower- 

 ed ; flowers rather large. — Yellowish-green. Dry pine-barrens. 12 — 

 18 inches. 



Genus III.— ACERA'TES. EU. 



(From a, priv., and keras, a horn, the hoods of the crown being destitute of a horn.) 



Calyx 5-parted. Corolla deeply 5-parted ; limb spreading 

 or reflexed. Stainineal crown destitute of horns. 



1. A. viridiflo'ra, (Ell.) Stem erect or ascending, hairy. Leaves 

 oval, ovate or obovate, or lanceolate and nearly linear, thick, on short 

 petioles, tomentose, pubescent. Flowers in sub-globose umbels, nearly 

 sessile. Follicles smooth. — Green. If. July. Sandy fields. 1 — 2 ft. 



Genus IV.— ASCLETIAS. L. 18—5. 

 (The Greek name of iEsculapius.) 



Calyx small, 5-parted. Corolla reflexed, 5-parted. Stami- 

 neal crown 5-leaved ; leaflets opposite the anthers, each pro- 

 ducing from its base a subulate averted process. Stigma with 

 5 angles. Pollen in 10 masses, arranged in pairs. Follicles 2. 

 Seeds comose. 



1. A. purpuras' cens, (L.) Stem erect, simple. Leaves ovate, near- 

 ly sessile, nearly glabrous above, downy beneath, purple midrib. 

 Flowers in erect, terminal umbels. Horns of the nectary resupinate. — 

 Purple. If. June — July. In swamps. 3 — i feet. 



2. A. phttolaccoi'des, (Pursh.) Stem erect, simple. Leaves oppo- 

 site, broad-lanceolate, large, acuminate, smooth, pale beneath. Flowers 

 in lateral and terminal umbels, nodding. — Greenish-purple. 2f . June 

 — July. Mountains. 2 — 4 feet. 



3. A. amplexicau'lis, (Mich.) Stem decumbent, terete. Leaves large, 

 succulent, sessile, opposite, cordate, strongly veined. Flowers in axilla- 

 ry and terminal umbels. Horns of the nectary exserted. — Dull white, 

 if. April — May. Dry sandy soils. 1 — 2 feet. 



4. A. obtlsIFo'lia, (Mich.) Stem simple, erect, purple. Leaves ses- 

 sile, opposite, cordate, ovate, undulate, glabrous, glaucous beneath. 



r.-i in terminal umbels, usually solitary, on long peduncles. Co- 

 rolla large, tinged with purple and green. Horns of the nectary ex- 

 . — Purple and white. If. June — July. Sandy soils. 2 — 3 ft. 



5. A. variega'ta, (L.) Stem erect, simple, terete, with 2 pubescent 

 lines. Leave* o\ j osite, oval-lanceolate, undulate, glabrous beneath, 



and margins pubescent. Flowrs in terminal umbels, with the 



Deles and pedicels pubescent, with a caducous bract at the base of 



pedicel. Calyx hairy, reflexed, with subulate segments. Corolla 



glabrous, green on the outer surface ; follicle lanceolate, smooth. — 



White. U- April — June. In rich soils. Common. 2 — 3 feet. 



G. A. qcadrifo'lia. (Muhl.) Stem erect, simple, smooth. Leaves ver- 



ticillate by fours, ovate-lanceolate, glabrous, acuminate on short petioles. 



n in terminal and axillary umbels; pedicels capillary ; nectaries 



with horns, 2-toothed. — White. If. June — July. Dry woods. 2— 3 ft. 



