196 KOBINIA PSEUDACACIA. 



bramble; but do not proceed from tbc wood, like the spines of the hawthorn, 

 cockspur. and other tlionis. The branches liave a general tendency npwards 

 when the tree is young, but as it grows old, they partake more of a horizontal 

 direction; and like the trunk, become somewhat contorted. The foliage is 

 light and agreeable to the eye, each leaf being composed of opposite leaflets, 

 eight, ten. or twelve, and sometimes more in number, surmounted by an odd 

 one. The leaflets are nearly sessile, oval, thin, with a texture so fine and a sur- 

 face so smooth, that the dust which falls on them will scarcely adhere ; which 

 last circumstance renders this tree particularly eligible for planting along road- 

 sides, hi the neighbouriiood of cities and towns, or in great thoroughfares. The 

 flowers, which open in March, at St. Mary's, in Georgia, and two months later 

 hi Pennsylvania, sometimes appear at the former place late in autumn. They 

 are disposed in pendulous bunches, from three to five inches long, perfectly white, 

 and sometimes yellowish, and diffuse an agreeable odour. They are succeeded 

 by narrow, flat pods, from two to three inches long, and about half of an inch 

 wide ; eacli of which contains five or six small, brown, or black seeds, that ripen 

 in tlie middle and northern states in the month of October. 



Varielies. We are inclined to believe that there are but two forms of the 

 Robinia indigenous to North America, that may be regarded as distinct, and that 

 the several varieties or races commonly treated as species, are the result of soil, 

 climate, or cross fecundation. For, the common locust varies much in its differ- 

 ent native localities, and also has long been cultivated from seeds in Europe, 

 which has brought forth numerous varieties, the foliage of which is tolerably 

 distinct when the plants are young. By carefully comparing the descriptions of 

 various authors, we recognize the following varieties or races, which may be 

 classed under this species : 



1. R. p. iNTERBiEDiA, Soulange-Bodiu. This kind is thought to be a hybrid 

 between the Robinia pseudacacia and viscosa. The branches, petioles, fcc., are 

 furnished with but few glands, and are rarely clammy. The flowers are sweet- 

 scented, and of a pale rose-colour. The pods are sometimes thickly set with 

 short prickles. 



2.. R. p. HispiDA, Lin. The Hispid Rose Acacia. The leaves of this race are 

 obovate, and are nearly twice the size of the Robinia pseudacacia. The branches 

 and legumes are hispid. The flowers are large, of a dark rose-colour, and inodo- 

 rous. 



3. R. p. ROSEA, Pursh. Rose Acacia. This variety differs from the R. p. his- 

 pida in not having the branches and petioles hispid, and in growing to an incon- 

 siderable shrub. 



4. R. p. GRANDiFLORA, Loudou. The Large-flowered Rose Acacia. The leaves 

 of this variety are large, and ovate-roundish. The branches and peduncles are 

 glabrous, and without prickles. The flowers are large, of a rose-colour, and 

 inodorous. 



5. R. p. FLORE LUTEO, Dumont de Courset. Yellow -flowered Robinia. 



6. R. p. ixERMis, De Candolle. The Unarmed Robinia. Leaves flat. Prickles 

 wanting, or nearly obsolete. 



7. R. p. CRisPA, De Candolle. The Crisp-leafleted Robinia. The prickles of 

 this variety are wanting. The leaflets, for the most part, are undulately curled. 



8. R. p. TORTuosA, De Candolle. The Twisted-trunked Robinia. The branches 

 of this variety are much crowded and twisted. Flowers small, and not abun- 

 dant. 



9. R. p. UMBRACULiFERA, De Caudollc. The Parasol Acacia. The branches of 

 this variety are much crowded, and smooth ; its head orbicular ; and, according 

 to Dumont de Courset, its flowers are yellow. 



