305 
The Indian doctors prize it for its expectorant and diaphoretic qualities. It 
possesses virtues somewhat similar to those of Ipecacuanha, and has been found 
an extremely useful medicine in dysenteric complaints. Ainslie, 2. 84. A 
decoction of Asclepias curassavica is said to be efficacious in gleets and fluor 
albus. Lunan, 1.64. The root and bark, and especially the inspissated milk, 
of Calotropis gigantea, the Akund, Yercum, or Mudar plant of India, is a 
powerful alterative and purgative ; it is especially in cases of leprosy, elephan- 
tiasis, intestinal worms, and venereal affections that it has been found impor- 
tant. A variety of cases are mentioned in books upon Indian medicine ; and 
there seems to be no doubt that this will form one of the most important of aU 
the articles of the Materia Medica. See, for information upon this point, 
Ainslie s Materia Medica, 1. 486. ; Trans, of the Med. Chir. Soc. vol. 10. ; Edinb. 
Med. Chir. Trans. 1. 414. The leaves of Cynanchum Argel are used in Egypt 
for adulterating Senna. The Sarsaparilla of India is chiefly the root of Hemi- 
desmus (Periploca) indica ; a decoction of it is prescribed by European prac- 
titioners in cutaneous diseases, scrofula, and venereal affections. Ainslie, 1 . 
382. It is more than probable that Caoutchouc is contained in several, as Cy- 
nanchum ovalifolium, according to Wallich, yields excellent Caoutchouc at Pe- 
nang ; the tenacity of some species may be owing to its presence, as of Mars- 
denia tenacissima employed for bowstrings by the mountaineers of Rajmahl ; 
the fibre of this plant, and of Urtica tenacissima was the strongest Roxburgh 
ever met with. Orthanthera viminea, attaining a height of 10 feet, is also 
remarkable for the length and tenacity of its fibre. Some species yield indigo 
of excellent quality, as Marsdenia tinctoria found in Sylhet, and Gymnena 
tingens. Royle s Illustrations, p. 274., which see for much more interesting 
matter connected with the sensible properties of plants of this order, and es- 
pecially of the Mudar. 
GENERA. 
§ 1. Genuin.®, Bartl. 
Ceropegia, L. 
Stephanotis, Pet. Th. 
Huernia, R. Br. 
Piaranthus, R. Br. 
Stapelia, L. 
Caruncularia, Haw. 
Duvalia, Haw. 
Obesia, Haw. 
Orbea, Haw. 
Tromotriche, Haw. 
Tridentea, Haw. 
- Podanthe, HaM\ 
Gonostemon, Haw. 
Apteranthes, Mikan. 
Desmidochus, Ehrenb. 
Brachystelma, Ker. 
Caralluma, R. Br. 
Boucerosia, W. et A. 
Hitchinia, W. et A. 
Microstemma, R. Br. 
Eriopetalum, Wght. 
Leptadenia, R. Br. 
Orthanthera, Wght. 
Pentasacme, Wall. 
Hoya, R. Br. 
Schollia, Jacq. 
Pterostelma, Wght. 
Physostelma, Wght. 
Tylophora, R. Br. 
Belostemma, Wall. 
Iphisia, W. et A. 
Marsdenia, R. Br. 
Cosmostigma, Wght. 
Heterostemon,W.etA. 
Pergularia, L. 
Dischidia, R. Br. 
Gymnema, R. Br. 
Sarcolobus, R. Br. 
Gonolobus, Rich. 
Matelea, Aubl. 
Hostia, Willd. 
Asclepias, L. 
Acerates, Ell. 
Gomphocarpus, R. Br. 
Enslenia, Nutt. 
Xysmalobium, R.Br. 
Podostigma, Ell. 
Calotropis, R. Br. 
Lachnostoma, H. B. K. 
Macroscepis, H.B.K. 
Kanahia, R. Br. 
Raphistemma, Wall. 
Oxystelma, R. Br. 
Urostelma, Bge. 
Oxypetalum, R. Br. 
Gothofreda, Vent. 
Sonninia, Reichenb. 
Diplolepis, R. Br. 
Seutera, Reichenb. 
Lyonia, Ell. 
Holostemma, R. Br. 
Fischera, DC. 
Cynanchum, L. 
Vincetoxicum, Pers. 
Schubertia, Mart. 
Solenostemma,Hayne 
Metaplexis, R. Br. 
Ditassa, R. Br. 
Daemia, R. Br. 
Dimia, Spreng. 
Philibertia, H.B.K. 
Sarcostemma, R. Br. 
Eustegia, R. Br. 
Pentaphragma, Zucc. 
Metastelma, R. Br. 
Tweedia, H. et A. 
Microloma, R, Br. 
Astephanus, R. Br. 
Arauja, Brot. 
Physianthus, Mart. 
Baxtera, Reichenb. 
Harrisonia, Hook. 
Secamone, R. Br. 
Oncinema, W. et A. 
Toxocarpus, W. et A. 
Goniostemma, Wall. 
§ 2. Periploce^, 
Bartl. 
Brachylepis, W. et A. 
Decalepis, W. et A. 
Streptocaulon,W.etA. 
, Hemidesmus, R. Br. 
Finlay sonia. Wall. 
Periploca, L. 
Gymnanthera, R. Br. 
Cryptostegia, R. Br. 
Schistogyne, H. et A. 
Phyllanthera, Bl. 
Leposma, Bl. 
Leptostemma, Bl. 
Conchophyllum, Bl. 
Fereiria, Velloz. 
Hybanthera, Endl. 
Pentatropis, R. Br. 
X 
