252 CALICIFLOR^. 



cured by the application of a solution of Indigo by means of a 



VI. Clitoria. 



rag. 



Calyx bibracteolated at the base, 5-fid. Standard 

 of the corolla large. Stamens diadelphous, inserted 

 with the petals not at the bottom, but above the base 

 of the calyx. Style subdilated at the apex. Legume 

 linear, compressed, straight, bivalve, acuminated with 

 the base of the style, 1-celled, cc-seed. Seed generally 

 intercepted by cellulose isthmi. — De Cand. 



Scandent plants ; leaves trifoliate ; flowers axillary. 



1. Clitoria Virginiana. Common Pea-flower. 



Stem glabrous or subpuberulous, leaflets hispidu- 

 lous with minute uncinate hairs especially above, pe- 

 duncles 1-4-flowered, bracteoles ovate acuminate 

 about the length of the calyx, standard spurred, 

 legumes linear compressed. 



Swartz, Ohs. 282 De Cand. Prod. II. 234. 



HAB. Common, especially on fences and in thickets. 



FL. July — November. 



Stem twining, filiform, striated, subglabrous. Leaflets, 

 ovato-oblong, mucronate, hispidulous, especially above, with 

 minute uncinate hairs, nerved. Peduncles axillary, usually two 

 together, of Avhich one is short and 1-2-flowered ; the other 

 longer and 2-8-flowered. Bracteoles close to the flower, ovate, 

 acuminate, slightly longer than the upper, but rather shorter 

 ^ than the lower lip of the calyx. Calyx externally hispidulous. 

 and ciliated Avith minute hooked hairs ; upper lip 2-fid with 

 the divisions approximating ; lower lip 3-fid with the divisions 

 lanceolato-subulate, and the middle one the longest. Standard 

 large, roundish, emarginate, of a purple colour, marked with a 

 yellow spot in the centre, minutely hispidulous externally. 

 Ovary subtetragonal, sulcated, glabrous : style, dilatato-expanded 

 towards the stigma. Legume about 3i inches long, straight, 

 linear, compressed, beaked with the persistent style, of a black 

 colour, glabrous : seeds about 18, yellowish. 



There are, according to De Candolle, three varieties of this 

 species; 1. angiistifoUa, with linear or lineari-lanceolate leaves; 

 2. eUiptica, with ovato-oblong or elliptic ; and 3. ovata, with 

 ovate. This plant is very common in all parts of the Island. 

 It is also indigenous to Virginia, Carolina, St Domingo, and 

 Porto-Rico. 



