200 



CHINA. 



[Asclepiadece. 



1. Melodinus monogynus; caule fruticoso scandente, foliis ovato-lanceolatis nitidis, 

 corymbis versus apices ramorura axillaribus terminalibusque confertis, squamis tubi corolla? 

 indivisis, stylo unico, stigmate ovato apice tenui bifido. — Roxb. Fl. Ind. v. 2. p. 56. Wall. 

 List of E. I. Plants, No. 1603. Vachell, n. 142. 



We can perceive no difference between Roxburgh's plant and that from China. We have asserted it to 

 be a climber on Roxburgh's authority, as our specimens are not of sufficient length to enable us to 

 determine that point ourselves. It is remarkable that it should not have been observed by Loureiro, par- 

 ticularly as from Roxburgh's description it appears to be a very large plant " climbing over trees," &c. 



We have also received, from Mr. Millctt, Wrightia tinctoria, Br. 



Ord. LIV. ASCLEPIADECE. Brown. 



TOXOC ARPUS. ( Wight and Am.) 



Corolla rotata; limbo 5-partito; laciniis contortis. Corona staminea 5-phvlla; foliolis 

 apice truncatis, dorso planiusculis, intus lacinula membranacea auctis. Masses pollinis 20, 

 erectas, laeves, apice corpusculi singuli exsulci quaternatim affixa?. Stigma ssepius rostratum, 

 acutum, indivisum. Folliculi laeves, divaricati. — Frutices volubiles ; caules glabri vel rvfo- 

 pubescentes. Folia opposila, glabra, nervis lateralibus ante marginem coalescentibus. Pani- 

 cula divaricata, diehotome corymbosa. 



1. T. Wightianus; foliis anguste ellipticis apice breve acuminatis, floribus breviter pedi- 

 cellatis, corollse tubo brevi gynostegium eequante, fauce glabra segmentis lingulatis tortili- 

 bus glabris, lacinulis foliolorum coronae elongatis ipsa foliola superantibus, stigmate rostrato 

 ancipiti tubum corolla? duplo superante. — Asclepias Curassavica. Lour. Cochin, v. I. p. 

 211? (non Linn.) 



We have named this species in honour of our friend Dr. Wight, who has studied the Indian genera of this 

 difficult Natural Order with peculiar zeal, and from whom we have derived much assistance in ascertain- 

 ing the Chinese species. The genus was instituted for the Asclepias longistigma of Roxburgh, (Fl. Ind. t. 

 •2. ]). 46,) which differs from the Chinese plant by having the leaves much broader, and the lacinula of the 

 coronal leaflets shorter than the leaflets. Our description is entirely derived from specimens received direct 

 from China from Mr. Vachell and Mr. Millett; the only individual in the Collection being destitute of flowers, 

 and having but two or three leaves, may perhaps be something different. 



1. Gymnema sylvestre. Broivn in Wern. Soc. Mem. 1. p. 33. Spreng. Syst. Veget. v. 1. 

 p. 844. Wight et Am. in Wight's Contrib. Bot. Ind. p. 44. (cum synon. omn.) — G. parvi- 

 florum. Wall. Tent. Fl. Nep.p. 50. — Periploca sylvestris. Willd. — Apocynum alterniflorum. 

 Lour. Cochin, v. 1 . p. 208 ? 



We possess specimens from Dr. Wight from the peninsula of India, agreeing so well with the Chinese 

 plant, that we consider them the same. In the Chinese individual the leaves are slightly narrower 

 and less pubescent beneath, but even in Indian specimens that character is exceedingly variable. We 

 have only two other Asclepiadece from Canton, but they are not among Captain Beechey's Collection : 

 the one is Asclepias Curassavica, L., the other is what Dr. Lindley has described (Hort. Soc. Trans. v. 



