LACHNOSTOMA (from lachne, wool, and stoma, a mouth; in allusion to the bearded corolla throat). SYNS. Chthamalia, Ibatia, Pherotrichis. ORD. Asclepiadeae. A genus comprising about sixteen species of stove or greenhouse, twining or prostrate, pubescent or villous, shrubby herbs, inhabiting tropical, and the warmer parts of North, America. Flowers often rather small; cymes contracted, two or few-flowered, or rarely umbellately many-flowered. Leaves opposite, often cordate. The undermentioned species--probably the only one in cultivation--requires culture similar to Gonolobus (which see). LACHNOSTOMA maritimus (sea-loving). fl., corolla green at back and edge, purple in the middle; umbels sessile, few-flowered, between the petioles. June and July. l. downy, cordate, acuminate, with the recess of the base open; petioles as long as the leaves. Stems densely downy backwards. Caracas, &c. An inelegant twiner. (B. R. 931, under name of Gonolobus maritimus.)