FABACEjE, OR LEGUMINOS-ffi. 



490. T. Fcenum Graecum Linn. sp. pi. 1402. Ach. Rich. hot. 

 med. 549. DC. prodr. ii. 182. W. and A. i. 195. — South of 

 Europe, and India ; but in the latter only known in a culti- 

 vated state. 



Annual. Stem erect, simple. Leaflets obovate, obsoletely toothed ; 

 stipules lanceolate, falcate, entire. Flowers sessile, solitary or in pairs. 

 Calyx hairy, the teeth subulate, the length of the tube. Legumes 

 elongated, compressed, longitudinally reticulated, falcate, with a long 

 beak about half the length of the legume. Seeds large, ovate, and 

 wrinkled ; the radicle prominent. W. and A. — A decoction of the seeds 

 used as an emollient, poultices are made with their flour. Only used in 

 veterinary medicine. 



MELILOTUS. 



Calyx tubular, softly 5-toothed. Corolla deciduous : keel 

 simple ; alae shorter than the vexillum : the keel and the alae co- 

 hering, free from the stamen-tube : vexillum free. Stamens dia- 

 delphous (9 and 1). Style terminal filiform. Legumes globose 

 or ovoid, longer than the calyx, coriaceous, scarcely dehiscent, 1- 

 or few-seeded. — Herbaceous annual or perennial plants. Leaves 

 trifoliolate ; leaflets often toothed, the terminal one stalked. 

 Stipules connate with the petiole. Peduncles axillary. Flowers 

 racemose, shortly pedicellate, white or yellow. Fruit pendu- 

 lous. W. and A. 



491. M. officinalis Willd. enum. 790. DC. prodr. ii. 186. 

 Ach. Rich. hot. med. 550. W. and A. i. 196. — Trifolium Me- 

 lilotus officinalis Linn. sp. pi. 1078. Fl. dan. t. 934. — Common 

 in hedges in the midland and southern parts of Europe. 



Stem erect branched ; branches very much spreading. Leaflets 

 lanceolate oblong, obtuse, remotely serrated ; stipules setaceous. Teeth 

 of the calyx unequal, the length of the tube. Vexillum brown, striated, 

 and with the wings as long as the keel. Legumes 2-seeded, obovate, 

 deeply pitted and wrinkled, somewhat hairy, becoming black, and rather 

 gibbous ; style filiform, the length of the legume. Seeds unequally 

 cordate, DC. — The decoction is emollient and occasionally employed 

 on the continent in lotions and enemas. The odoriferous principle 

 very fugacious; it was asserted by Vogel to be benzoic acid, but ac- 

 cording to Guibourt and others it is Coumarine the aromatic principle 

 of the Tonka Bean. 



TRIFOLIUM. 



Calyx tubular, permanent, glandless, 5-cleft, with subulate 

 segments. Keel shorter than the wings and vexillum, and all 

 growing into a monopetalous corolla. Stamens diadelphous. 

 Legume small, scarcely dehiscent, often ovate, 1-2-seeded, 

 shorter than the calyx and covered by it ; rarely oblong ; 3-4- 



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