an erect habit. Branches angled, and more or less compressed 
or furrowed. Leaves articulated upon the branches, rigid, the 
lower ones linear, terete, the upper ones vertically compressed, 
cuneate, with the upper edge towards the apex more dilated so as 
to be hatchet-shaped, on each side are two nerves and at the 
apex at the lower margin is a mucro. Flowers in short racemes 
from the axils of the leaves, so close as to form a leafy spike. 
Calyx short, obliquely campanulate, with very short teeth. 
Vevillum \arge, suborbiculari-cordate, orange-red at the back, 
below black, internally also orange-red with a dark green eye, 
which in decay changes to deep purple. Wings orange, shorter 
than the keel. Keel orange, with a subrostrate black acumen, 
pointing upwards. Stamens ten. Ovary and style glabrous. 
Fig.1. Leaf. 2. Flower. 3. Back view of the vexillum. 4. One of the 
wings. 5. Keel. 6. Flower with the petals removed. 7. Pistil :—magnified. 
