590 CASSIACEAE 
with comparatively large blades, somewhat unequal, the standard larger than the rest and 
bearing a gland at its base, all spreading. Stamens 10: filaments distinct, villous below the 
middle, those opposite the petals shorter: anthers opening lengthwise. Pods narrow, 
leathery, tapering to both ends, tortulose. Seeds oblong, lengthwise, with a crustaceous 
brown testa. Endosperm horny. 
1. Parkinsonia aculeata L. A shrub or small tree sometimes 9 m. tall, with zigzag 
thorny branches. Leaves elongated, 2-4 dm. long, slender, the rachis winged ; leatlets 
numerous, more or less distant, the blades linear to linear-oblanceolate, 1-10 mm. long, 
inequilateral, on slender petiolules : racemes slender, 1-1.5 cm. long: calyx glabrous ; tube 
very short; lobes oblong, reflexed, surpassing the tube: petals yellow, 1-1.5 cm. long; 
blades suborbicular or oval, longer than the claws: stamens and ovary pubescent: pods 
narrow, 5-10 cm. long, contracted between the seeds, acuminate at both ends : seeds oblong. 
In sandy soil, Florida to Texas, California and Mexico. Also in tropical America. Spring. 
7. CERCIDIUM Tulasne. 
Shrubs or trees, with spine-armed more or less tortuous branches. Leaves bipinnate, 
relatively small. Leaflets few to each pinna, small. Flowers in short, often clustered, 
racemes. Calyx-lobes 5, slightly unequal, valvate. Corolla yellow. Petals 5, with broad 
imbricated blades. Stamens 10, slightly declined : filaments distinct, pubescent near the 
base : anthers opening lengthwise. Pods flattened, narrow, 2-valved. Seeds several. 
Ovary and pod pubescent: pods 5-6 mm. broad. 1. C. Texanum. 
Ovary and pod glabrous: pods 10-12 mm. broad. 2, C. floridum. 
1. Cercidium Texànum A. Gray. A thorny shrub 6-15 dm. tall, with rigid zigzag, 
often intricate, branches. Leaves early deciduous : leaflets 2-4, the blades leathery, oblong- 
obovate, 4-6 mm. long, rounded or retuse at the apex, sessile: flowers solitary in the axils 
or racemose at the ends of the branchlets: calyx-lobes ovate-lanceolate, or lanceolate, re- 
flexed : corolla yellow, 1.5-2 em. broad: petals spreading, slightly crisped, the standard 
with a suborbicular blade, the others with obovate blades: pods flat, linear, 3-5 cm. long, 
pubescent, slightly constricted between the seeds. 
On mesas, along and near the Rio Grande, Texas. Spring. 
2. Cercidium flóridum Benth. A thorny tree 4-6 m. tall, with a crooked trunk 
becoming 2.5 dm. thick and a wide top. Leaves deciduous: leaflets 4-6, the blades 
obovate or oblong-obovate, 4-6 mm. long, obtuse or slightly emarginate, minutely puberu- 
lent and sometimes slightly glandular, nearly sessile: flowers in lax racemes: calyx-lobes 
oblong, reflexed, deciduous: corolla golden-yellow, nearly 2 cm. broad : petals spreading, 
undulate, the standard with a reniform-obicular blade, the others with obovate-orbicular 
blades: ovary glabrous: pods flat, narrow, 4-6 cm. long, glabrous. 
On dry gravelly mesas, southern Texas and Mexico. Spring. 
8. DELONIX Raf. 
Trees, with spreading branches, unarmed. Leaves bipinnate, with several or many 
pinnae. Leaflets relatively small, numerous. Flowers in corymbose racemes. Calyx- 
lobes 5, nearly equal, valvate, much longer than the tube. Corolla showy, red or orange. 
Petals 5, with broad imbricated blades. Stamens 10, declined : filaments distinct : anthers 
opening lengthwise. Pod somewhat flattened, elongated, often solid between the seed, 
2-valved. Seeds several. ; 
1. Delonix régia (Boj.) Raf. A shrub or tree becoming 5 m. tall, with a mi 
hoe i top. Leaves spreading, the larger with 20-50 pinnae: leaflets numerous, the 
blades linear-oblong, 4-10 mm. long, 2-4 mm. wide: pedicels stout: corolla or 
orange : petals 5-7 cm. long, the blades undulate and crisped. [Poinciana regia Boj.] 
In sandy soil, southern peninsular Florida and the Keys. Also in the tropics generally. 
9. POINCIANA L. 
Shrubs or trees, smooth or prickle-armed. Leaves abruptly bipinnate, with several 
or many pinnae. Leaflets few or many to each pinna, entire. Flowers in racemes or 
panicles. Bracts wanting or caducous. Calyx-lobes 5, petaloid, imbricated, the lower 
lobe largest, overlapping the rest. Corolla often highly colored. Petals 5, unequal. = 
mens 10: filaments distinct: anthers opening lengthwise. Pods rather narrow, unarmed, 
straight or nearly so, wingless. 
