ASCLEPIAS. 



ASCLEPIADACE^E. 



121 



15 - 30-flowered : peduncle 2-3 inches long : pedicels about an inch and a half long, 

 pubescent on one side. Segments of the calyx lanceolate. Corolla greenish white, often 

 tinged with purple ; the segments oblong, rather acute. Stamineal crown stipitate on the 

 contracted tube of the filaments ; the lobes erect, short and truncate ; the inner margin with 

 an acute tooth on each side, and two or more shorter teeth on the summit : horn with the 

 exserted slender point curved over the summit of the stigma. Follicles lanceolate, acuminate, 

 4-6 inches long, minutely pubescent. 



Moist rocky soils and bushy places ; not common. June - July. 



4. Asclepias obtusifolia, Michx. Waved-kaved Milkweed. 



Stem simple, somewhat flexuous, smooth and glaucous ; leaves oblong, obtuse, waved, 

 sessile, somewhat cordate and clasping, glaucous underneath, transversely and reticulately 

 veined ; umbel usually solitary, on a long terminal peduncle, densely many-flowered ; lobes 

 of the crown truncate, toothed at the summit ; horns exserted, with a long subulate point. — 

 Michx. fl. 1. p. 115 ; Pursh, fl. 1. p. 182 ; Ell. sic. 1. p. 321 ; Bigel. fl. Bost. p. 102 ; 

 Torr. fl. 1. p. 281 ; Beck, bot. p. 236 ; Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 170 ; Decaisne in DC. prodr. 

 8. p. 565. 



Stem 2-3 feet high. Leaves 3-5 inches long and about 2 inches wide, usually obtuse 

 and often emarginate, but with a slight point at the extremity ; the two lower pairs sometimes 

 closely approximated. Peduncle 6-12 inches long. Umbel many-flowered ; the flowers 

 larger than in any other of our species. Calyx ovate-lanceolate. Corolla 4-5 times longer 

 than the calyx, greenish purple ; the lobes oblong. Tube of the stamens rather conspicuous. 

 Lobes of the crown more or less toothed at the summit, one-third longer than the stigma : 

 horn distinctly exserted. Follicles about four inches long, smoothish, rather slender. 



Sandy woods and fields. Long Island ; in the valley of the Hudson ; and north as far as 

 Washington county. June - July. 



5. Asclepias variegata, Linn. (PI. LXXXVI.) Variegated Silkiveed. 



Stem simple, with two opposite lines of pubescence ; leaves ovate or obovate, somewhat 

 waved, rather thick, attenuated at the base into a petiole, smooth ; umbels on short peduncles, 

 the peduncles and pedicels woolly ; lobes of the crown nearly orbicular, without teeth ; horn 

 broadly lunate, with a horizontal point. — Linn. sp. 1. p. 215 ; Bot. mag. t. 1182 ; Pursh, 

 fl. 1. p. 181 ; Ell. sk. 1. p. 317 ; Nutt. gen. 1. p. 167 ; Torr. fl. 1. p. 280 ; Beck, bot. 

 p. 236 ; Darlingt. fl. Cest. p. 170 ; Hook. fl. Bor.-Am. 2. p. 52. t. 141 ; Decaisne in DC. 

 prodr. 8. p. 565. A. hybrida, Michx. fl. I. p. 115. A. citrifolia, Jacq. coll. 2. p. 290, and 

 ic. rar. t. 343, ex Decaisne. 



Stem about two feet high, sometimes with a short solitary branch near the summit, obtusely 

 4-sided. Leaves 3-4 inches long ; the lowest obovate ; upper ones ovate or oblong, obtusish 

 or with a short acumination ; the veins horizontal and reticulated. Umbels 1 - 4, terminal 

 and in the upper part of the stem, densely flowered. Corolla white or slightly tinged with 

 purple, greenish externally. Stamineal crown white, purplish at the base : lobes twice as 

 | Flora — Vol. 2.] 16 



