Desmodium. XLVII. LEGUMINOSiE. 231 



27. DESM ODIUM. DC. 



Gr. SEcfioi, a bond ; in reference to the slightly connected joints of the lomentJ 



Calyx 5-cleft, bilabiate, sometimes bibracteolate at base ; vexillum 

 roundish; keel obtuse; stamens diadelphous (9 & 1), sometimes 

 monadelphous ; legume (lomeut) compressed, composed of several 

 1-seeded, separable joints. — Germs taken from Hedysarum. %■ Her- 

 baceous or suffruticose. Lvs. f innately trifoliate. 



* Staviens all connecUd. Calyx toothed oi- entire. 



1. D. NUDiFLORUM. DC. (Hedy.sarum. Linn.) 



_ Lfts. roundi-sh-ovate, acuminate, .slightly glaucous beneath; scape radical, 

 panicled smooth; joints of the Imnent obtusely triangular— Common in woods, 

 U. S. and Can. It is remarkably distinguished by having its leaves and flow- 

 ers on separate stalks, often distant from each other. Stem 8—10' high with 

 several ternate, long-stalked, smoothish, terminal leaves. Scape 2— Sf'long 

 slender, smooth, leafless, panicled, with many small, purple flowers. Aug. 



2. D. ACUMINATUM. DC." (Hedysarum. Linn.') 



Plant erect, simple, pubescent, leafy at top; lfts. ovate, long-acuminate, 

 the odd one round-rhomboidal ; panicle terminal, on a very -long peduncle — 

 Common in woods, U. S. and Can. Stem H— 12' high, ending in a slender 

 panicle 1 or 2f long. Leai^es at the top of the stem and below the panicle. 

 Terminal leaflet roundish, 3' diam., lateral leaflets smaller, all of them covered 

 with scattered, appressed hairs and con.spicuously pointed. Flowers small 

 flesh-colored. Pod of about 3 triangular joints. July. Aug. ' 



3. D. PAUciFLORUM. DC. (H. pauciflorum. Nutf.) 



SI. assurgent, simple, or slightly branched, retrorsely hairy; lfts. mem- 

 branaceous, pale beneath, scabrous-pubescent above, terminal one rhomboidal, 

 lateral ones inequilateral-ovate, all rather acute, or subacuminate; r«c. termi- 

 nal, few-flowered ; /5. in pairs ; ;;c/. all distinct! spreading.— Woods, Penn. 

 to 111. and La. Root creeping, tubercular. Stems often clustered, If high. 

 Petioles 2—3' long. Leaflets 1—3' long, |— f as wide. Flowers 2—6, white or 

 purplish. Legume of 2 — 3 obtusely triangular joints. Jl. Aug. 

 * * Stamens dioAelphoais or the tenth stamen nearly free. 



4. D. Canadense. DC. (Hedysarum Canadense. Linn.) Bush TVe foil. 



Lfts. oblong-lanceolate, nearly smooth; slip, filiform; bracts, ovate, long- 

 acuminate ; fls. racemcd; joints of the lomcnt obtusely triangular, hispid. — Rath- 

 er common in woods, Can. to Penn. and la. A hand.some plant about 3f in 

 height. Stem upright, striate. Leaflets 3' long, broadest at base, pointed, near- 

 ly smooth. Flov.'ers purple, in axillary and terminal racemes with conspicuous 

 bracts. Pods about 5-jointed. Jl. 



5. D. CANEscENs. DC. (D. Aikinianum. Beck. H. canesc. L.) 



St. erect, branched, striate, scabrous; lfts. ovate, rather obtuse, scabrous 

 on the upper surface, .soft-villous beneath ; slip, large, oblique, acuminate ; pa^i. 

 terminal, very long, densely canescent, naked; joints of the lomcnt triangular; 

 iqxper lip of tlie calyx nearly entire. — Woods, N. Eng. to Flor. An upright, 

 branching plant, with very long panicles of flowers greenish externally, pm-ple 

 within. Stem 3f high, pubescent. Pods about 4-jointed. Aug. 



6. D. DiLLExii. Darl. (D. Marilandicum. DC. H. Maril. Willd.) 

 DiUenius' Dcsrnodium. 



P^a?i.i erect, branching, hairy; lfts. oblong, villose beneath; slip, subu- 

 late; rac. panicled; joints of the loment 3, rhomboidal, reticulate, a little hairy. 

 — Moist soils. Northern and Western States. Stem sulcate, scabrous, 2 — 3f 

 high. Leaflets 2 — 3' by 1 — 2', smooth above. Panicle large, terminal, naked. 

 Flowers purple. Jl. 



7. D. cuspiDATUM. T. & G. (D. bracteosum. Z>C. H. bract. Mx.) 

 Plant erect, smooth ; lfts. oblong-oval or ovate, acuminate ; slip, lanceo- 

 late-subulate ; rac. paniculate, terminal, large, with scattered flowers ; bracts 

 ovate, acuminate, striate, smooth ; joints of the lament suboval. — A larger spc- 



OO* 



