222 THE LADIES' FLOWER-GARDEN 
smaller umbels than those of A. incarnata. The present species also is a much larger plant, attaining the height 
of 3 or 4 feet or more ; and the stem and leaves are covered with long hairs, and the lower leaves are cordate. 
This species also ripens its seeds freely in England, which the preceding one does not. A. pulchra is a native of 
North America, and it appears to have been in our gardens as long, or nearly so, as A. incarnata, though the 
exact year of its introduction is unknown. 
4.— ASCLEPIAS VARIEGATA, Lin. THE VARIEGATED SWALLOW-WORT. 
Synonymes. A. hybrida, Michx. ; A. virgiaiana, Bauh. ; Apo- Specific Chahacter. — Leaves ovate, rugged, naked. Stem simple. 
ovnum Americanum, Pulk, Umbels subsessile. Pedicels of the flowers tomentose. 
Engraving.— Bot. Mag. 1. 1182. 
Desceiption, &c. — This species was the first introduced of the genus, having been brought to England in 
the year 1597. This plant possesses the quality, common, more or less, to all the species of the genus, and to 
some of the kinds of Apocynum, of catching flies ; and it was from the quantity of honey-like juice secreted by 
the leaflets appended to the stamens, that Linnasus called those parts nectaries. It is a native of Carolina, and 
flowers in July. The stem dies down to the root in winter, and hence it is sometimes supposed to be lost, and 
the root is thrown out in digging the ground, though it would have sent up fresh shoots in spring, if it had been 
suffered to remain undisturbed. As this species rarely ripens seeds in England, it is generally propagated by 
dividing the root. 
5— ASCLEPIAS DECUMBENS, Pe.rs. THE DECUMBENT SWALLOW-WORT. 
Engravings.— Sweet's Brit. Flow. Gard. 2d ser. t. 24 ; and our very hairy. Leaves oblong, obtuse, mucronate ; smooth above and 
fig. 3 in Plate 69. 'lii'fy below ; rcticulately veined ; upper ones opposite. Umbels many- 
Specific Character. — Stem decumbent, but somewhat ascending flowered, lateral, and terminal, 
towards the points, and divided into short, but spreading branches ; 
Description, &c. — The roots of this plant are tuberous, and hence it has been supposed by some botanists 
to be a variety of A. tuberosa. They are, however, very distinct both in the stems and leaves. The stems grow 
several from the same root, and though at first trailing, they turn up at the points of the shoots, so as to form a 
very handsome tuft of flowers. The lea\es are short, feather-nerved, and terminate in a short hard point or 
mucro. The flowers are small, but they are produced in great abundance, and from their brilliant colour, they 
are very showy. This species is readily distinguished, even when not in flower, from all the others, by its habit 
of growth and its oblong blunt leaves, which have the peculiarity of being glossy on the upper surface, and 
densely hairy below. It is a native of North America, and was introduced in 1731. It should be grown 
in peat. 
C— ASCLEPIAS NIVEA, Lin. THE SNOW-WHITE SWALLOW-WORT. 
few-flowered. Pedicels of the florets very slender, and as long as the 
peduncle of the umbel. 
Engraving — Bot. Mag. t. 1181. 
Spfcific Character. — Leaves opposite, ovate-lanceolate, tomentose 
below. Stem simple, swollen at the joints. Umbel extremely lax, 
Desckiption, &c. — This species is remarkable for its very lax umbel ; the flowers comprising which droop 
from the weakness of their foot-stalks. Though the flowers are said to be white, it is only the appendages of 
the stamens that are truly so, the petals being tinged with a greenish brown. It is a native of Virginia and the 
Carolinas, whence it was introduced in 1 730. It is said to require a slight protection during severe frosts, and 
it is propagated by dividing the roots. This species is sometimes called the Almond-leaved Swallow-wort. 
