178 LEGUMINOS.E. 



Of nutritions Leguminosa the West Indies afford, — the beans of Phaseolus, Dolichos, 

 Yigna, Canavalia, Cajanus, Arachis, and of the cultivated Ficiete ; the tubercles of Pachyr- 

 rhizus angulatus and of Stenolobium cceruleum ; the pulp of Inga vera, ingoides, and 

 setifera, of Hymenaa and of Prosopis (Algaroba). Cattle feed chiefly on Trifoliea, Vicia 

 sativa, and on the pods of Calliandra Saman. A diluent, nutritious drink is prepared from 

 Abrus. Gum is obtained from Prosopis juliflora and Acacia arabica, oil from Arachis. 

 Medical substances are, — the purgative pulp of Tamarindus indica (Tamarind), and of Cassia 

 Fistula ; the drastic leaves of Cassia obovata (Senna) ; the bitter, emetic kernels of Guilan- 

 dina ; the diuretic Pithecolobium JJnguis-cati, and Mucuna pruriens ; the anthelmintic 

 bark of Andira inermis ; the stomachic Rhynchosia phaseoloides ; the balsam of Copaifera 

 officinalis (Copaiva), and similar substances occurring in Myrospermum frutescens and Ptero- 

 carpus Draco; several powerful astringents, viz. Acacia Catechu, Lebidibia coriaria, 

 Hamatoxylon, Brownea. The poisonous Piscidia and Tephrosia toxicaria are both used 

 to intoxicate fish. The famous pigments iu this Order are the Indigo (Indigo/era tinctoria 

 and Anil, both generally cultivated), the Braziletto (Peliophorum Linncei), and the Cam- 

 peachy- or log-wood (Hamatoxylon) . Timber-trees and valuable woods are numerous : 

 Brya (a hard wood), Piscidia, Platymiscium, Ormosia, Hamatoxylon, Peltophorum (a cabi- 

 net wood), Hymenaa, Copaifera, Mora excelsa (one of the best timber-trees in Trinidad and 

 Guiana), Prosopis juliflora (wood for fuel), Piptadenia peregrina (Humboldt's Niopo-tree), 

 Calliandra latifolia (wood for axe-handles), Pithecolobium filicifolium and micradenium 

 (both valuable), Inga vera, and other Mimosea. 



Tribe I. PAPILWNACEM. — Flowers papilionaceous. Standard exterior in the bud. 

 Stamens perigynous. Embryo mostly curved. 



Subteibe 1. GENISTEuE. — Stamens monadelphous. Wings foveolale. — Leaves palmate, 



or devoid of leaflets. 



1. CROTALARIA, L. 



Standard cordate. Keel falcate. Anthers alternately unequal. Legume inflexed, usually 

 oblong. — Herbs or shrubs ; flowers usually racemose : racemes opposite the leaves or 

 terminal. 



* Leaves devoid of leaflets {i.e. phyllodia). 

 f Stipules decurrent. 



1. C. stipularis, Desv. Annual, erect, subhirsule-pubescent ; leaves oval or lanceo- 

 late, sessile : stipules broadly decurrent, with a semilunar, incurved top ; peduncles lateral, 

 elongated, few-flowered ; calyx deeply 5 -fid, usually as long as the corolla : segments lanceo- 

 late ; legume oblong, glabrous, shortly stipitate. — Mart. Fl. Bras. %k. t. 3 ; Desc. Fl. 6. t. 

 434 — C. sagittalis, Desv. — Usually su|frutescent, 1' high or higher jdown erector spreading ; 

 flowers yellow ; legume 1" long. 



a. Leaves oval, large (2" long). 



/3. oblongata. Upper leaves oblong-lanceolate, blunt (2" long). 



y. sericea. Down sericeous ; leaves lanceolate, bluntish (1' long) : upper ones small 

 (6'" long).— C. Espadilla, Kth. 



Hab. Dominica !, Imr. (a, 7), S. Vincent !, Guild. ; Trinidad !, Lockh. ; [Guadeloupe 1 

 (j8) ; Guiana to Brazil !]. 



2. C. pterocaula, Desv. Annual, virgate, subsericeous-pubescent ; leaves linear or 

 lanceolate-linear, acuminate, sessile : stipules narrowly long -decurrent, with a short, in- 

 curved-subulate top ; peduncles few-flowered ; calyx 5-partite, nearly as long as the corolla : 

 segments lanceolate ; legume oblong, glabrous, shortly stipitate. — Mart. Fl. Bras. 24. t. 2. — 

 C. fruticosa, Mill, in Macf. — 2'-4' high, nearly branchless ; leaves 3"-l" long, 3"'-2"' broad ; 

 flowers yellow, with a purple-striate standard ; legume 1£"-1" long. — Hab. Jamaica!, Pd. ; 

 Trinidad !, Or., in savannahs ; [Veraguas, New Granada !, Brazil !, Peru !]. 



ft Stipules sessile, or obsolete ; (species of East- Indian origin.) 

 3*. C. verrucosa, L. Annual, erect, glabrescent; branches and peduncles 4-3-angled; 

 leaves ovate, shortly petioled : stipules sessile, semilunar, rounded, reflexed ; racemes many- 



