FABACEAE 619 



1. Tium intdnsum (Sheldon) Rydb. Plant villous. Stems branched at the base, 

 the branches ascending or prostrate, 2-10 cm. long, often branching : leaves 4-10 era. 

 long ; leaflets 9-15, the blades oblong, obovate to suborbicular, 3-10 mm. long, usually 

 notched at the apex, slender-stalked : peduncles as long as the subtending leaves or longer : 

 racemes suborbicular to ovoid, 1-2 cm. long : calyx densely pubescent ; lobes lanceolate- 

 subulate, as long as the tube or longer : corolla dull yellow, about 1 cm. long : pods nar- 

 row, about 2 cm. long, villous, slightly curved. [Astragalus villosus Michx. A. intonsus 

 Sheldon.] 



In sandy pine lands, South Carolina to Georgia and Florida. Spring. 



2. Tium obcordatum ( Ell. ) Eydb. Plant glabrous or nearly so. Stems branched 

 at the base, the branches ascending or prostrate, 1-3 dm. long, sometimes sparingly 

 branched : leaves numerous ; leaflets 15-25, the blades obcordate or oblong-obcordate, 3-8 

 mm. long, short-stalked : peduncles about as long as the subtending leaves : racemes ovoid 

 to cylindric, 1-3 cm. long : calyx more or less pubescent ; lobes narrowly lanceolate, about 

 as long as the tube : corolla pale purple or blue, 7-10 mm. long : pods crescent-shaped, 

 3-3.5 cm. long, 1-celled, short-beaked, delicately reticulated. [Astragalus obcordatus Ell.] 



In dry pine lands, Georgia and Florida. Spring. 



3. Tium apilosum ( Sheldon ) Rydb. Plant silky when young, glabrous in age. Stems 

 erect, 3-9 dm. tall, sparingly branched : leaves few, 1-1.5 dm. long; leaflets 15-25, the 

 blades linear or nearly so, 1-2 cm. long, mucronulate or notched at the apex, short- 

 stalked : peduncles surpassing the subtending leaves : racemes few-flowered, 4-10 cm. long : 

 calvx more or less silky : lobes triangular or triangular-lanceolate, shorter than the tube : 

 corolla white, 1.5 cm. long : pods 3.5-4 cm. long, acute, transversely wrinkled. [Astragalus 

 glaber Michx. A. ajyilosvs Sheldon. ] 



In pine lands, North Carolina to Florida. Spring. 



25. PHACA L. 



Perennial or annual herbs, sometimes almost acaulescent. Leaves alternate, the 

 stipules nearly free, often partially united : leaflets many, the blades entire. Flowers per- 

 fect, in short or elongated racemes, or sometimes nearly sessile in the axils of the leaves. 

 Calyx campanulate : lobes more or less unequal, sometimes longer than the tube. Corolla 

 mostly ochroleucous, occasionally purple : standard with a relatively broad blade : wings 

 longer than the keel-petals. Stamens 10 : filaments diadelphous : anthers alike. Ovary 

 sessile or stipitate. Ovules numerous. Pod membranous, inflated, neither suture intruded, 

 1-celled, without even a partial partition. Seeds numerous. 



Leaflets 7-13 : pods mostly less than 2.5 cm. long. 1. P. lotifiora. 



Leaflets 13-17 : pods mostly over 2.5 cm. long. 2. P. Rcverchonii. 



1. Phaca lotifiora (Hook.) Nutt. Plant silky -villous. Stems wanting or short: 

 leaves numerous ; leaflets 7-15, the blades oblong, elliptic or oljlanceolate, 5-15 mm. long, 

 acute or obtuse, usually short-stalked : peduncles very short or surpassing the leaves in 

 length : calyx densely pubescent ; lobes narrowly lanceolate or almost subulate, longer 

 than the tube : corolla yellowish, about 1 cm. long : pods 1-celled, less than 2.5 cm. long. 



On prairies, Northwest Territory to Nebraska, Texas and Colorado. Summer. 



2. Phaca Reverchonii (A. Gray) Rydb. Plant silky or silky-pilose. Stems short, 

 branching at the base, leafy : leaflets 13-17, the blades narrowly elliptic to oblong, 6-15 

 mm. long, acute or obtuse, sessile or nearly so : peduncles 2-10 cm. long, usually about 

 as long as the leaves : racemes 1-2 cm. long : calyx densely pubescent ; lobes subulate-lan- 

 ceolate, acuminate, usually longer than the tube : corolla yellowish, about 1 cm. long : 

 pods fully 2.5-3.5 cm. long, canescent, acuminate. [Astragalus Reverchonii A. Gray.] 



In dry limestome soil, the Indian Territory and Texas. Spring. 



26. XYLOPHACOS Rydb. 

 Perennial mostly copiously pubescent, usually low, herbs, often essentially acaulescent. 

 Leaves alternate, the stipules nearly free, distinct : blades entire. Flowers perfect, in 

 short, often almost capitate, racemes. Calyx cylindric : lobes shorter than the tube. 

 Corolla purple, or very rarely ochroleucous or crimson : standard with a narrow blade, 

 only slightly longer than the wings. Stamens 10 : filaments diadelphous : anthers alike. 

 Ovary sessile. Ovules many. Pod fusiform to ovoid, leathery or woody, pubescent, 1- 

 celled, without a partition, but the lower suture sometimes slightly sulcate. Seeds 

 numerous. 



