388 
XCII. ASCLEPIADACEjE. 
[Marsdenia. 
23 . MARSDENIA, Br. 
Half shrubby climbers with large thin membranous leaves. 
Flowers small in clusters in a panicle raceme or corymb. 
Calyx with glandular scales. Corolla campanulate or urceolate, 
lobes narrow. Corona processes subulate, bilobed or o. Staminal 
column with appendages incumbent on style top. Pollinia solitary, 
erect; caudicles stout. Style apex large, 5-rayed or lobed. Follicles 
lanceolate. Seed plumed. Species about 70, all tropics. 
Flowers clustered on branches of a panicle . . (1) M. tiuctoria 
Flowers clustered in a long raceme . . . (2) M. thyrsiflora 
Flowers in corymbose cymes . . . . . (3) M. Scortechinii 
(1) M. tinctoria Br. Mem. Wem. Soc. Edinb. i. 30; King, l.c. 
545 - 
Half-herbaceous shrub, climbing, slightly pubescent at tips. 
Leaves membranous, ovate to oblong broad acuminate, base cordate, 
glabrous when adult, 4 to 5 in. long, *3 in. wide (leaves at ends of 
sprays much smaller); petioles 1*25 in. long. Panicle 5 in. long 
with distant sessile heads *3 in. through, of small, green, short- 
pedicelled flowers or a continuous raceme of flowers. Calyx- 
lobes ovate. Corolla cylindric-campanulate, about *i in. long, 
including the rounded lobes, tufted with hair at mouth. Follicles 
linear-lanceolate, 3 in. long, -5 in. through, gibbous at base pubes¬ 
cent. Seed ovate, short beaked, *5 in. long. Hab. Open ground, 
among thickets. Selangor, Batu Caves. Perak, Temengoh; 
Kamuning; Ulu Selama (Scortechini). Kedah (Kunstler). Dis- 
trib. India, Malay Archipelago, and China. Native name : Tarum 
Akar. 
In 1888 and onwards there were a number of plants in waste ground in 
Singapore said to have been introduced as an indigo plant, but, as no one 
knew how to extract the dye, it dropped out of cultivation and gradually 
disappeared. It is possible that all the above-quoted localities are remains 
of cultivation. 
(2) M. thyrsiflora Hook. fit. F.B.I. iv. 37; King, l.c. 546. 
Climber. Leaves membranous, ovate acuminate, deeply cor¬ 
date ; nerves 3 pairs from the sinus and 2 or 3 pairs from the broad 
midrib; 4 to 8 in. long, 2 to 6 in. wide; petioles 3*5 in. long. 
Racemes from between petioles 6 in. long. Flowers small in fascicles 
of 2 or 3, distant ; pedicels slender 1 in. long on a tubercle. Calyx 
deep cleft, lobes ovate-lanceolate, scales subulate. Corolla urceo¬ 
late, lobes lanceolate. Corona none. Follicles lanceolate, 2 in. 
long, *25 in. through, acuminate. Seed ovate, -2 in. long, winged, 
plume short. Hab. On river banks in lowland forest. Pahang, 
Tahan river banks. Distrib. India, Assam. 
(3) M. Scortechinii King and Gamble, l.c. 546. 
Twiner. Leaves membranous, ovate-cordate acuminate; nerves 
5 to 7 pairs; 2 to 3 in. long, 1 to 1*5 in. wide; petioles -5 to 1 in. 
long. Cymes corymbose, 1 in. long. Flowers numerous; pedicels 
