1835.] 



Observations on Mudar. 



71 



Europe by medical men who had employed it there, from 

 specimens of the medicine sent from Bengal. These very 

 unexpected results, gave rise to a suspicion that the Ben- 

 gal and Carnatic plants were different species, which was 

 afterwards proved to be the case ; first, I believe, by the 

 late Dr. Buchanan Hamilton, who called the one Calotropis 

 ( asclepias J gigantea, the other C. procera — (the true Mu- 

 dar of Bengal). It now only remained to determine, whe- 

 ther the C. procera was a native of the peninsula, and if 

 so, the marks by which it might be distinguished from the 

 other, which it so much resembles in general appearance^ 

 as to have been long confounded with it. — It is the object 

 of this communication to determine these points. 



The Calotropis procera abounds in the ceded districts to 

 the almost entire exclusion of the gigantea, and is found 

 here in all soils, while the other is equally abundant on the 

 coast. It is not improbable I think, that the procera will 

 be found in every district where Trap formations are 

 indicated by the presence of black cotton soil, and that it 

 will be found in such situations in the Carnatic 

 if not prevented by an unfavourable climate. This 

 point however can only be determined by future obser- 

 vations, which will require to be made with some 

 care, as the two plants are so much alike in their ge- 

 neral aspect, that they cannot with certainty be distin- 

 guished unless in flower ; and then they can be distinguish- 

 ed at a glance, even before the flowers are full blown. 



Previous to detailing the characters of the genus and of 

 these two species, it appears advisable to give some account 

 of the natural order to which they belong. 



The AsclepiaderB rank in the Linnean Natural Order 

 Contortce, and in Jussieus' eleventh class, characterised by 

 having a monopetalous inferior corolla with distinct an- 

 thers. In the sexual system they were arranged by Linnaeus 

 in the class Pentandria, order Digijnia, an arrangement 

 that has been followed by most authors, though objected to 

 by some, who thought that they would be better placed^ in 

 Monadelphia or G tjnandria. The characters of this order 

 first established by Mr. Brown, are : Calyx 5 cleft, corolla of 

 one petal, variously cleft. Stainens 5, filaaients usually flat. 



