SENNA FAMILY 99 



Stems prostrate, rough with rigid hairs. Leaves twice-pin- 

 nate, of many small leaflets. Seedpods oblong or oval, rough- 

 hairy, about 1 in. long, 1-4- jointed. Damp soil near streams. 

 Blooming in spring and summer. Fla. to Texas. 



Cat's-Claw. Black Bead (Genus Pithecolohium) 



These shrubs of southern Florida are remarkable for 

 their peculiarly twisted seedpods, two to five inches long, 

 which open when ripe and disclose shining black seeds with 

 bright red arils. Occasionally shrubs are found in which 

 the arils are white. Both flowers and seedpods are seen 

 in winter, as well as at other seasons. 



The closely allied tropical rain-tree, Sammiea Saman, 

 with large compound leaves, and showy flowering-heads in 

 which the long stamen filaments are shaded from pale 

 pink to crimson, is sometimes planted for ornament in 

 Florida. 



Pithecolohium guadalupense. Flowers dull yellowish, mi- 

 nute, many, in globose, stalked heads. Calyx and corolla 5- 

 lobed, stamens many, filaments long, united at base. Un- 

 armed shrub or small tree. Leaves evergreen, of 4 leathery, 

 oblique leaflets 1-2 in. long. Sandy soil near the coast. 

 Blooming chiefly in spring and summer. Southern peninsula 

 Fla. 



Pithecolobimn Unguis-cati. Armed shrub or small tree, 

 much branched. Two stout thorns at base of leaf-stalks. 

 Leaflets 4, usually smaller than in above species. Southern 

 peninsula Fla. 



SENNA FAMILY (Cassiaceae) 



Flowers slightly irregular. Sepals and petals 5 each, stamens 

 10 or less. Leaves alternate. Fruit a legume. 



The most widely noted of the cultivated members of 

 this branch of the pea family is the royal poinciana, a tree 

 whose striking beauty has caused it to be garried from 



