Sarcostemma
(from sarx, sarkos, flesh, and stemma, a crown; the leaflets of the inner corona are fleshy). ORD. Asclepiadeae. A genus of climbing or decumbent, leafless, stove shrubs, with slightly fleshy branches, natives of tropical and sub-tropical Asia, Africa, and Australia. Eight species have been described, but the number may be reduced to four or five. Flowers rather small; calyx deeply five-fid; corolla sub-rotate, deeply five-fid, the lobes twisted; corona often duplex, the outer one annular or cyathiform, the inner one of five erect scales; cymes umbelliform, the receptacle or rachis often clavate. S. Brunonianum, the species best known to cultivation, requires culture similar to Ceropegia (which see). The American species formerly included in this genus are now referred to Philibertia. S. Brunonianum (Brown's). fl. bright yellow; column very short; inner processes of the corona almost concealing the anthers; stigma very shortly conical; umbels chiefly lateral. India, 1872. (B. M. 6002.)