260 THE LADIES' FLOWER-GARDEN 
send up suckers from underground buds. They are natives of marshy places, and will not succeed in very dry 
soil. The species were included by Linnaeus in Tabernaemontana ; but they have been separated, because their 
seeds are not immersed in pulp, as in that genus. The name was given in honour of an American traveller, 
named Amson. 
Specific Character. — Stem very smooth ; leaves oval-lanceolate ; 
upper ones drawn out to a long point, and slightly pubescent on the 
veins beneath. 
1.— AMSONIA LATI FOLIA, Clayton. THE BROAD-LEAVED AMSONIA 
Synonymis. — Amsonia Tabernaemontana, Wall. ; Tabemsemon- 
tana Amsonia, Lin, ; Apocynum virginianum, Pluh. 
Engravings. — Bot. Reg. t. 151 ; and ouv fig. 4, in Plate 68. 
Description, &c. — This is a very pretty little plant, with loose panicles of blue flowers, haying a fragrance 
like those of the violet. The stem dies down to the ground every year. It is a native of North America, 
where it was found by Pursh, growing in the wet shady woods of Carolina. It was introduced in 1759. It 
is tolerably hardy in British gardens, in which it should be grown in a moderately rich soil, and never suffered 
to become too dry. 
2.— AMSONIA SALICIFOLIA, Pursh. THE WILLOW-LEAVED AMOSNIA. 
Enghaving.— Bot. Mag. t. 1873. 
Specific Character. — Stem smooth ; leaves linear-lanceolate, acutely pointed, and very smooth. 
Description, &c — This species is rather more tender than the preceding one. It is not so pretty, from the 
pale colour of the flowers, and the long narrow leaves. It requires a slight protection during severe frosts, and, 
like the preceding species, it should be grown in a tolerably good soil, and kept moist. Both species seldom 
produce seeds here, and are propagated by ofi-sets. It was introduced in 1812. 
OTHER SPECIES OF AMSONIA. 
A. ANGUSTIFOLIA, Pursh. 
This one differs from the two preceding species, in having hairy stems. It was introduced in 1774. 
CHAPTER XXXI. 
ASCLEPIADACE^. 
Character of the Order.— Calyx five-cleft, persistent. Corolla 
monopetalous, hypogynous, five-lobed, regular, deciduous. Stamens 
five, inserted in the bottom of the corolla, alternating with the seg- 
ments of the limb. Filaments usually connected. Anthers two- 
celled, but sometimes almost four-celled, from a partial dissepiment 
in each of the true cells. Pollen coalescing in masses, which become 
fixed to the five processes of the stigma. Ovaries two. Styles two, 
with a common stigma, which is dilated and pentagonal. Follicles 
two, one of which is often abortive. Seeds numerous, imbricate, pen- 
dulous, usually furnished with a tuft of hair at the upper extremity. 
Albumen in two parts. Embryo straiglit, with leafy cotyledons, a 
superior radicle, and a very small plumule. 
Description, &c. — The plants belonging to this order are easily distinguished from most other plants, by 
their pollen being produced in waxy masses, instead of being in the shape of fine dust, as is generally the case. 
The only other order of plants which resembles the Asclepiadacese in its pollen is the Orchidaceie. In the silky 
hjwrs attached to the seeds, these plants resemble some of the kinds of Apocyneae. Most of the plants belonging 
to this order require a stove in England. 
