144 . LEGUMINOS/E. [Phaca. 



juo'is oblongo-lanceolatis obtuslusculis, stipulis ovatis acutis inferioribus connatis majns- 

 culis, leguniinibus tenui-stipitatis oblique ellipticis acutis membranaceis glabris. (Tab. 

 LVI.) — Astragalus Aboriginorum. JRicL in Frank!, Ist Joum, ed. 2. App. p, 28. 



** Radix teres, longa, flavescens, Glycyrhizse similis, e qua surgunt caules plures pedales, suffruticosi, erecti, 

 graciles, simpliciusculi, pUis mollibus canesceutes. Folia sessilia (aut brevi-petiolata) pinnata, pube 

 cancscenti ut in caule sed longiori et densiori; rachide bipoUicari iiMoTm\\ foliolis pleruraque 11, pollicaribus, 

 sessilibus, linearibus lanceolatisve obtusiusculis basi attenuatis, utrinque concoloribus, nunc alternis nunc 

 oppositis rariusve verticillatis ; stipulis caulinis: inferioribus connatis ovatis acutis; superioribus niagis dis- 

 tinctis acurainatis. Pedunculi axillares foliis duplo longiores, pilosi, iJacewiu^ erectus, laxus, 15-20-florus, 

 pedicellis erectis calyce et bractea subulata pilosa brevioribus. Calyx nigrescenti-pilosus, laciniis quinque 

 subulatis eequalibus: superioribus sinu obtuso separatis. Corolla albida cserulescensve carina saturate 

 caerulea. Vexillum ungue lato horlzontali calyce breviori. Umbo obcordato erecto. AI<b vexillo breviores, 

 carina paulo longiores, ungue tenui lineari, limbo oblongo emarginato ad basin lobo lineari obovato aucto. 

 Carina obtusa, calyce tertia parte longior, Legiimen immaturiira oblongum, pilis canis adpressis tectum, 

 (nunc glabrum,) pedicello longitudlne calycis sustentatum, stylo brevi incurvo capitato terminatum. Semina 

 14." Rich. Legumen (maturum) uniloculars, nutante, unciara sesquiunciam longum, inflatura, membran- 

 aceum, obscure reticulatum, glabrum, subellipticum, acutum, stylo brevi terminatum, inferne in stipitem 

 gracilem calyce duplo longiorem attenuatura, sutura hinc plana, marginibus paululum introflexis, illinc curvata. 

 Semina subrotundo-reniformiaj laevia, fusco^jlivacea, ^o^fos^ermo brevi, 



Hab. From Lake Winipeg to tbe Rocky Mountains, and as far north as Bear Lake, in lat. 66°. Dr, 

 Richaidson; Z>rummond. — " The Crees and tbe Stone Indians gather its roots in the Spring as an article of 

 food." Rich. — After the excellent description above-quoted, made from the recent plant, I have little to 

 remark. The perfect fi'uit, which was unknown to Dr. Richardson, has now been seen in abundance, and 

 proves the genus to be Phaca, rather than Astragalus. 



Tab. LVI. Phaca Aboriginorum. Fig, 1, Raceme of fruit: — natural size. Fig. 2, Flower; Jig. 3, Al£e and 

 carina; fig. ^, Stamens and Pistil; fig. 5, Pistil; fig. Q, Legume: — natural size, Fig.l, Transverse 

 section of do. : — all but^^s. 1 and 6, more or less magnified. 



10. P. glahriuscula ; glabra vel pilis raris minutis sparsa, caule erecto subsimplice 

 striate, foliolis 5-6-jugis lineari-lanceolatis subacutis, stipulis ovatis acutis inferioribus 

 connatis majusculis, leguniinibus sublonge stipitatis lauceolato-falcatis (vix maturis) 

 compressis membranaceis glabris. 



Hab. Vallies of the Rocky Mountains. Drummond. — General aspect very similar to the preceding, of 

 which it may perhaps be a variety; but it is almost entirely, and especially in the leaflets, glabrous; smaller too 

 in all its parts, and the fruit is much narrower, more falcate, and, in the scarcely mature state, exceedingly 

 compressed. It seems to be rare, as very few specimens were gathered, but those are both in flower and fruit. 



11. P,€l€gans; subglabra, caule subramoso erecto vel assurgente angulato, foliolis 

 5-7-jugis oblongis obtusis basi cuneatis supra glabris subtus pilis minutis appressis, 

 stipulis ovatis acutis basi subconnatis, racemo compacto longe pedunculato folium ex- 

 cedente fructifero elongate, leguminibus sessilibus ellipticis inflatis membranaceis, ni^ro- 

 velutinis apiculatis 3-5-spermis. — ^. minor ; caule ascendente minore, racemo breviore. 



Hab. Prairies in the Rocky Mountains, and /3. on the higher summits of the mountains. Drummond.— 

 This grows in the plains to the height of a foot, or a foot and a half, erect, having leaflets nearly an inch 

 long, somewhat glaucous beneath, flowers bright and deep purplish-blue, in a compart raceme ; these racemes 

 elongate considerably as the fruit ripens, and bear ovate, very densely hairy, blackish legumes, about three- 

 fourths of an inch long. Var. A. is smaller in all its parts, has smaller and rounded racemes, with more 



