PEA FAMILY (PULSE FAMILY) 115 



flame from thickets, or rise among low palmettos, during 

 late winter and spring. 



The elongated racemes of long, narrow flowers often 

 bloom before the leaves appear. The cylindrical calyx 

 is red, also, and almost conceals the small wings and keel. 

 The seedpods, which are constricted between the seeds, 

 open in autumn and display bright scarlet beans. Several 

 ornamental exotic species of this genus are planted in 

 southern Florida. 



Erythrina herbacea. Flowers red, narrow, nearly 2 in. 

 long, in racemes 1-2 ft. long. Stems 2-6 ft. tall, usually 

 prickly. Leaves long-stalked, leaflets 3, triangular, 1-3 in. 

 long. Sandy soil. Blooming from late winter to summer. 

 Fla. to N. C. and Texas. 



Erythrina arborea. Flowers similar to above species. 

 Shrub or small tree, 10-20 ft. tall. Southern Fla. 



Milk Pea. Galactia (Genus Galactia) 



Our common species of galactia are prostrate or climU- 

 ing plants of sandy soil, which bloom from early spring 

 to fall in axillary raceme-like panicles of small white, 

 rose, or purple flowers. The two upper lobes of the calyx 

 are united, making the calyx four-lobed, and the lowest lobe 

 is longer than the others. 



G. ElUottii, one of the most common, bears white flow- 

 ers, often tinged with red, not quite half an inch long, 

 and has leaves of seven or nine leaflets, which are smooth 

 above and pubescent beneath. The seedpods, nearly two 

 inches long, are woolly. This pea often forms a thick 

 carpet on the ground, or covers shrubs with its twining 

 growth. 



Our other galactias have three-foliate leaves. G. flori- 

 dana, a pubescent, prostrate plant that does not twine, has 

 many rose-purple flowers, and very woolly seedpods about 

 two inches long. G. regularis, with twining stems, is 

 smooth or slightly pubescent. The flowering-stalks are 



