safford: lignum nephriticum 511 



and by the Spaniards sangre de drago, or dragon's blood. Among 

 the latter are species of Pterocarpus, which grow to much larger 

 dimensions than the Eysenhardtia, and one of these was in all 

 probability the source of the large logs carried to Spain by the 

 Viscayan merchant mentioned by Hernandez. Hernandez never 

 described a Pterocarpus botanically, and in all probability he 

 never saw specimens of their leaves or flowers. As already 

 indicated, none of them has leaves with small leaflets in any way 

 comparable to those of Cicer arietinum or of Ruta chalepensis. 



THE GENUS EYSENHARDTIA 



Following is the original description of the genus Viborquia 

 of Ortega/- with a reproduction of Ortega's original illustration 

 (fig. 1). The name itself, on account of its prior use for 

 another genus by Konrad Moench of Marburg, in 1794, under 

 the form Viborgia, had to be abandoned in favor of the much 

 later name Eysenhardtia of Humboldt, Bonpland and Kunth, 

 proposed in 1823. ^^ 



Generic Character 



Calyx tubular-campanulate, five-toothed at the mouth; teeth equal, 

 obtuse, very small, the two upper ones more remote, broader, and 

 a little deeper. 



Corolla papilionaceous. Vexillum cuneiform, emarginate, carinate, 

 with the margins involute. Wings longer than the keel, spathu- 

 late, falcate, within concave above. Keel two-petaled, spathulate, 

 falcate, within concave above. 



Stamens ten. Filaments shorter than the corolla, united into a cylin- 

 der cleft above. Anthers subrotund, incumbent, bifid at the base. 



Pistil with the ovary oblong compressed. Stijle subulate, ascending, 

 a little longer than the stamens. Stigma capitate. 



Legume oblong, compressed flat, subfalcate, containing the seed at 

 the apex. 



Seed oblong-reniform, affixed to the apex of the legume. 



Differential Character 



Calyx 5-toothed, the two upper teeth the broader. Corolla composed 

 of 5 petals: vexillum cuneiform, the remaining petals spathulate. 

 Legume sessile, foliaceous, 1-seeded, containing the seed at its apex. 



12 Hort. Matr. Dec. 5: 66. 1798. 



13 Nov. Gen. et Sp. 6: 489. 1823. 



