379 
Calotropis.} xcn. asclepiadace^e. 
13 . CALOTROPIS, Br. 
Erect branched shrubs. Leaves broad, sub-sessile. Flowers 
in umbelled cymes from the stem between the petioles. Calyx 
s-lobed Corolla campanulate or sub-rotate, lobes 5 , broad, valvate 
as long as tube. Corona of 5 fleshy processes adnate to column 
with an upcurved spur and auricles at base. Stamens, anthers 
short, horny; appendage inflexed over style-apex. Pouen- 
masses solitary spathulate, caudicles slender. Ovary-cells 2, 
style slender, apex pentagonal. Follicles large, inflated, fleshy. 
Seed ovate plano-convex, plumed. Species 4, tropical Asia. 
(1) C. gisrantea Br. Ait. Hort. Kew {ed. 2), 11. 70. 
Shrub about 5 or 6 ft. tall; branchlets woolly. Leaves leathery, 
elliptic-oblong cordate, woolly when young but becoming more or 
less glabrous, 4 to 8 in. long, 2 to 4 in. wide; petioles none or very 
short Cymes erect, many-flowered, woolly, on peduncles 1 to 
4 in. long; cymes 2 to 3 in. long and wide. Flowers large, white 
and lilac about 1 in. across. Follicles 3*5 in. long or more, 2 m. 
wide. Seeds -25 in. long; plume 1-25 in. long. Hab In villages 
by the sea or in dry spots, cultivated. A native of India. 
14 . ASCLEPIAS, Linn. 
Herbs or shrublets. Leaves membranous. Flowers in 
peduncled umbels red or yellow, terminal. Calyx deeply 5"lobed 
with S or 10 scales between. Corolla rotate, deeply lobed lobes 
valvate, reflexed. Corona of 5 processes adnate to stammal column, 
lobes concave with a horn from within. Filaments connate in a 
tube. Pollen-masses pendulous, solitary m anther-cell wit 
caudicles. Follicles lanceolate. Species numerous in Africa and 
America, one naturalised in our region. } ™ 
(1) A. curassavica Linn. Sp. PL 215, King, l.c. 530, Hot. 
^Herb about 2 ft. tall with narrow lanceolate leaves acuminate, 
long-narrowed to base, thin, 2-5 to 5*5 in. long, *5 to 1 m. wide 
Umbels axillary and terminal; peduncles 2 in. long pedicels 
in long; flowers about 12. Corolla-lobes reflexed, scarlet, 
*25 in. long.’ Staminal-column orange. Follicles 3 to 3*5 m. long. 
Hab. An alien from America in village ground and roadsides. All 
over the peninsula here and there. 
15 . RAPHISTEMMA, Wall. 
Glabrous, slender bushy climbers. Leaves membranous, ovate 
cordate. Flowers in peduncled umbels, white and pink, large. 
Calyx 5-lobed glandular within. Corolla campanulate, lobes 
spreading. Coronal processes membranous subulate acuminate 
twice as long as staminal-column. Stamens filaments connate in 
a tube. Pollen-masses 1 in a cell, waxy with short clavate caudicles. 
ns 
