sili allies ee 
Arachis. DIADELPHIA. DECANDRIA, 281 
that the essential generic character of two such widely dis- 
tinct species, seldom agrees so well as in these two, (viz. 
Arachis hypogea, Linn, and Stylosanthes mucronata, Willd. 
Root annual. Stems, or rather branches many, diffuse, 
hairy, from two to four feet long. Leaves alternate, pinnate, 
Leaflets two pair, oval and obovate, slightly hairy under- 
neath, Petioles longer than the leaflets, with the base enlarg- 
ed into a stem-clasping sheath, with two ensiform processes, 
Flowers axillary, two or three together, blossoming in suc- 
cession, Bractes a common exterior pair to the fascicle, and 
small proper ones fo the several flowers ; all are membranace- 
ous, tapering to a fine point, and ciliate, Calyx with a very 
long, filiform, slender tube ; mouths two-parted ; the upper 
lip three-cleft, with the middle division emarginate ; the low- 
er lip lanceolate, and rather longer. Corol papilionaceous, 
resupinate, of a bright yellow colour. Banner round, emar- 
ginate, large in proportion to the other petals, inserted with 
the wings and carina partly on the base of the staminiferous 
tube,and partly on the mouths of the tube of the calyx. Wings 
free, obliquely-ovate, concave, longer than the carina, which 
is at the base two-parted ; the upper half incurved and su- 
bulate, Filaments ten, united into one fleshy tube, with a 
groove, but no opening on the upper side, Anthers alter- 
nately sagittate and ovate. Germ ovate, lodged on the very 
base of the sessile tube of the calyx. Style long and slender. 
Stigma even with the anthers, and bearded on the inside, 
Legume oblong, leathery, swelled at each seed, reticulated 
with prominent nerves, one-celled, not opening spontaneous- 
ly, nor are the sutures very conspicuous ; length various, but 
in general about as thick as the little finger. Seeds from one 
to four, ovate, smooth, of the size of a French bean. The 
manner in which the young minute germ of the plant acquire 
pedicels, sufficiently long toallow them to thrust themselves 
Into the ground to the depth of one, two, or even. three inches, 
where they grow and ripen their seed, is truly w 
To understand this admirable economy, it mines, he 
VOL, I}. Jj : e 
