120 



ASCLEPIADACEiE. 



ASCLEPIAS. 



** Follicles smooth. 

 t Leaves opposite. 



2. Asclepias purpurascens, Linn. (PI. LXXXV.) Purple Silkweed. 



Stem simple, with two opposite lines of pubescence ; leaves ovate -elliptical, acute, 

 mucronate, abruptly attenuated into a short petiole, smoothish above, softly pubescent and 

 pale underneath ; peduncles and pedicels pubescent on one side ; lobes of the crown oblong, 

 abruptly narrowed above, nearly twice as long as the stamineal column ; horn broadly falcate, 

 with the acuminate point horizontal, much shorter than the lobe. — Linn. sp. 1. p. 214 ; 

 Pursh, fl. I. p. 181 ; Bigel. fl. Bost. p. 103 ; Beck, hot. p. 235 ; Decaisne in DC. prodr. 8. 

 p. 564. A. amoena, Michx. fl. 1. p. 118; Nutt. gen. 1. p. 166; Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 69. 



Stem 2-3 feet high, erect, rather slender. Leaves 3-5 inches long and lj - 2| inches 

 wide, soft and almost velvety underneath ; the midrib on the upper surface of a purplish 

 color. Umbels 10 - 25-flowered, usually two at the summit of the stem, but there are often 

 two or more lateral ones, about half as long as the leaves : peduncles 1-2 inches and the 

 pedicels about one inch in length. Flowers erect. Calyx less than half the length of the 

 corolla ; the segments lanceolate. Corolla dark crimson-purple ; the lobes oblong-lanceolate, 

 acute. Lobes of the crown purplish, abruptly acuminate, but obtuse at the summit ; the horn 

 very broad at the base, with a narrow point which is bent at a right angle toward the stigma. 

 Stamens, style and ovaries nearly as in the preceding species. Follicles oblong, tapering to 

 a point, erect, smooth. 



Borders of woods, and thickets ; not uncommon in the southern part of the State, but I 

 have not met with it in the northern or western counties. July. This species is easily dis- 

 tinguished at a distance by its deep purple flowers ; but its most remarkable character is the 

 broad abruptly bent horn of the stamineal crown. A. amcena of Michaux seems to be the 

 same as this plant, as far as the description goes ; but there are no specimens of it in his 

 herbarium. 



3. Asclepias phytolaccoides, Pursh. Poke-leaved Milkweed. 



Stem simple, with 2 opposite lines of pubescence, elliptical-oblong, acuminate at each end, 

 petiolate, smooth above, somewhat pubescent underneath ; umbels loosely flowered, on long 

 peduncles ; pedicels slender ; lobes of the crown truncated obliquely outward, the inflexed 

 margins 2-toothed at the summit ; horn much exserted, with a long subulate curved point. — 

 Pursh, fl. I. p. 180 ; Ell. sk. 1. p. 319 ; Nutt. gen. 1. p. 166 ; Bigel. fl. Bost. p. 102 ; 

 Torr. fl. 1. p. 280 ; H. H. Eaton in Transylv. jour, med. 1832 ; Beck, hot. p. 235 ; Dar- 

 lingt. fl. Cest. p. 171 ; Decaisne in DC. prodr. 8. p. 565. A. exaltata, Muhl. cat. p. 37. 

 A. nivea, Hook. fl. Bor.-Am. 2. p. 53, not of Linn.? 



Stem 3-6 feet high, rather slender. Leaves 6-8 inches long and 2-3 inches wide, 

 thin, on petioles about half an inch long. Umbels lateral and terminal, somewhat nodding, 



