Tab. 4283. 
SMITHIA PURPUREA. 
Piirple-f owered Smithia. 
Nat. Ord. Leguminos^e.—Diadelphia Decandria. 
Gen. Char. Calyx basi bracteolis duabus persistentibus, bilabiato-bipartitus, 
labiis ^qualibus, integris v. obsolete partitis. Carolla papilionaceae vexillum 
subrotunduin, patens, ahe oblongae, transversim plicatae, carince petala dorso 
apice leviter cobserentia. Stamina 10, in phalanges pentadelphas coalita; 
antherce confonnes. Ovarium sessile, quadri-sex-ovulatum. Stylus filifomiis 
adscendens; stigma simplex. Legumen compressum plicato-4-6-(pluri-)ai’ticu- 
latum, calyce inclusum, articulis orbicularibus, delabentibus, monospermis. Semina 
compresso-reniformia.—Herbee procunibetites, in Asia et Nova Hollandia tropica 
hidigencB ; foliis abrupte pinnatis, paucijugis, foliolis ciliatis, adpresse setosis ; sti- 
pulis setnisagittatis ■, racemis axillaribus, paucijloris, floribus_/?a®is fv. purpureisj. 
Endl. 
Smithia purpurea ; caule erecto ramoso glabro, foliolis oblongis longe apiculatis 
ciliatis subtusque ad costam submarginalem praecipue setuloso-strigosis, 
stipulis adnatis ovatis seta terminatis, racemis terminalibus lateralibiisque, 
pedunculis setosis folium aequantibus, bracteis ovatis calycis labiisque integris 
striatis ciliatis, corolla piu^urea (vexillo rotundato alisque macula alba 
notatis) alis vexUloque patuUs basi superne unidentatis, ovario lineari pluri- 
ovulato basi cupnlato. 
Five species of Smithia are described, all natives of India, and 
all having yellow flowers. Our valued friend J. S. Law, Esq., has 
discovered in Bombay a sixth species, having purple flowers, the 
vexillum and alae being moreover each marked with a conspicuous 
white spot. Seeds of this lovely little plant (and dried native 
specimens) were forwarded to us by Mr. Law, and the former 
soon germinated and blossomed in the stove of the Royal Gardens, 
in October, 1846. It difiers in no respect from the generic 
character of Smithia, except that it has more seeds in each legume 
than had been attributed to the Genus. 
Descr. Boot annual ? Stem erect, filiform, branched, terete, 
glabrous. Leaves sessile, closely pinnated, with ten to twelve 
opposite, oblong, acute, ciliated leaflets, the apex terminated by 
a hair. Stipules subulate, brown. Baceines terminal, few- (two 
to five) flowered, bracteated. Pedicels hispid. Bracteas and 
sepals of the calyx ovate, striated, green, ciliated: the former con- 
february 1st, 1847. 
