234 



60. ASCLEPI iDE J3. 



[Calotropts, 



a large staminal column, dorsally spurred. Anther-tips membranous, 

 inllexed. Pollen-masses in pairs, waxy, pendulous. Stigma depress- 

 ed, 5-angled or lobed. Follicles broad, ovoid. Seeds comose. 



Flower buds, ovoid, angle^l. Coronal appendages 



truncate ... ... 1. C, gigantea. 



Flower buds hemispherical, not angled. Coronal 

 appendages acute 2. C. jprocera. 



1. C. gigantea, Br. in Horfc. KewEd. 2. II. 78 ; Fl. Br. 1. 4. 17 ; Dalz. 

 & Gibs. Bomb. Fl. 149 ; Brandis For, Fl. 331. Madar, mudar, M. ; Arka, 

 ahari, rowi, Vern. Throughout India ascending to 3000 ft. in the 

 Himalayas. 



Throughout the presidency in dry, waste places ; very common. Fl. 

 throughout the year. Fall of acrid, white juice. A large shrub easily 

 distinguished from 0, proceray by the coronal appendages which are 

 shaped like mythological dolphins. In 0. procera, the appendages are 

 shaped like the prow of steamer. Yields a fine silky fibre which is up to 

 this time difficult to prepare profitably. 



2. C. procera, R. Br. in Ait. Hort. Kew Ed, 2. II. 78 ; Fl. Br. I. 4, 

 18 ; Dalz. & Gibs. Bomb. Fl. 149 ; Brandis For. Fl. 331. Lalmanda'r, 

 tamhara, ak^ M. 



Western and Central India from Sind and the Punjab to Mysore ; 

 common in the dry parts of the Belgaum district, associated with 

 G. gigantea. Bark used in Sind for halters, lines and nets. Fl. Feb. -May. 

 Fr. 0. S. 



7. D.aiMIA, Br. 



Climbers. Leaves cordate. Flowers in axillary cymes, pedicels 

 filiform. Corolla green, tube short, lobes large, broad, overlapping 

 to the right. Corona of an outer annular, 5-10-crenate or lobed mem- 

 brane and 5, compressed scales, adnate to the anthers and spurred 

 behind with long subulate tips. Pollen-masses in pairs, pendulous, 

 waxy. Follicles softly echinate. 



D. extensa, Br. in Mem. Wern. Soc. 1. 50 ; Fl. Br. I. 4. 20 ; Dalz. & 

 Gibs. Bomb. Fl. 160. TJtaran, M. 



Throughout India from the North- Western Himalayas to Lower Bengal 

 and Ceylon, Burma. Throughout the dry districts of the Deccan ; also 

 in hedges in the Konkan, common in the DharwJir district. Fl. apparent- 

 ly throughout the year. A foetidly smelling climber, yielding a fibre 

 recommended as a substitute for flax. 



8. HOLOSTEMMA, Br. 



Twining^ shrubs. Leaves membranous, cordate. Cymes axillary, 

 of large purple flowers. Corolla-lobes thick, overlapping to the right. 

 Corona 10-lobed, fleshy. Anthers large, horny, shining, cohering in a 



