mADELPHIA. DECANDRIA. 113 



A tropical j^enus of more than 50 species, with some 

 exceptions in'jupan and South Africa. The seeds of some 

 of the species are esculent, and used as articles of ordi- 

 nary diet. 



514. APIOS. Moenclu Glycixe. L: 



Calix subbilabiatp, trmuate, with but a single 

 denture situated beneath the carina. Carina 

 falcate, refle( ting the apex of tlie vexilluni. Germ 

 cylindrically sheathed at the base. Legume 

 many-seeded. 



Koot consisting of pendulous oblong"-c}lindric tubers; 

 stem lierbaceoiis and twining-; stipules cauiine and sulni- 

 latc; leaves pinnate in 5's and 7's; racemes axillary, many- 

 flowered, flowers brown, atrgregated by 3's, bi-actes by o's, 

 caducous; calix short and truncate, subcrenate, bi'brac:- 

 teolate, lower lip with a single denture; carina of ihe cori)!la 

 falcate; stipe of tlie germ cylindrically sheathed, a cir- 

 cumstance common to two other genera. 



Sfectes. 1. A. tul/erosa. Vn. Tlowers odorous; tJibers 

 of the root edible ami farinaceous, much like those of Xa- 

 thi'vus tnl^erosiisscAd in some of tlie German markets, and 

 rarely larger, though very numerous. 



515. ^AMPFIICARPA. EUioiL mss. 



Calix cam[)anulato, ^-toothed, obtuse and na- 

 ked at the base. Petals all oblong, vexillum 

 broader and incumbent, subsessile. Anthers 

 round. Stigma capitate. Germ cylindrically 

 sheathed at the base. Legume flat, and stipitate, 

 2, 3 or 4-seeded. 



Stems twining, leaves ternate, stipules, minute, cauiine; 

 racemes axillai'y; bisctes 2-flowered; flowers sometimes 

 apetalous. (Wings oblong, unldentate at the base; carina 

 oblong, obtuse, straight.) 



Species. 1. monoica. Obs. Stem twining, retrorsely 

 pilose; leaves ternate, ovate, nearly smooth; stipules ovate, 

 striate; racemes pedunculate, short and crowded, pendu- 

 lous; bractes roundish, persistent, 2-nowered. Calix cam- 

 panulate, naked and obtuse at the base, almost equally 4- 

 toothed; carma oblong, obtuse, not reflecting the vexdlum, 

 uiiich is oblong; flowers all petajiferous, and all more or 

 less producing frait. Gei'm cylindrically sheathed at the 

 Iv 



