l^EGUMINOS^. 



123 COLLUTEA. 



A. Canade'nsis. 



Canescent, erect, diffuse ; stipvJes broad-fenceoiate, acuminate ; hnjlets 

 about 10 pairs with an odd one, elliptical, obtuse at both ends, the lowest 

 ovate-obtuse ; peduncles about as long as the leaves, vi'hen in fruit shorter ; 

 spikes oblong ; floictrs spreading, somewhat reflexed ; legumes ovate-oblong-, 

 terete, suberect, smooth, 2-celled, many-seeded, abrupt at the end and tipped 

 with a permanent style. River banks, &c. At the ferry, Niagara Falls. Stem 

 bushy, about ',\ feet liigh, very leafy. Flowers greenish yellow, in short, dense 

 spikes. Pods I inch in length, leathery. Jl. Aug. Canadian Milk Vulc'i,. 



20. INDIGO'FERA. 

 Calyx spreading; carina with a spreading, subulate spur on 

 each side. 



Lat. indigo, fero, that is, a plant bearing indigo. 



I. tincto'ria. 



LM?;es pinnate, oblong, smooth, with 9 leaflets; racemes shorter than the 

 leaf; le<rumes round, arcuate. A low shrub, native of E. India. From ilns, 

 and /. aro-enteii, are chiefly obtained the useful drug Indigo. For this purpose 

 it is extensively cultivated in the W. Indies and in Hindostan. At any sea- 

 son of the year it is planted in rows in a free, rich soil. Being kept clear of 

 weeds, it is fit for cutting in 2 or 3 months, — a process which in rainy seasons 

 may be repeated every six weeks. Being cut, the herb is first steeped in \va- 

 ter until it has imparted all its coloring matter. The liquor is then let off into 

 a series of vats, in which, after a peculiar process called beating, witli filtra- 

 tioa anij evaporation, it ultimately deposit? tlse colored fecula or indio-o. This 

 is then cut into pieces about an inch square, dried, packed in casks or bags, 

 and is ready for sale. An acre of ground well managed will yield 25 lbs. a 

 year. Indigo. 



21. A'PIOS. 

 Calyx campanulate, obscurel}' bilabiate, the upper lip of 2 

 very short, rounded teeth, the 2 lateral teeth nearly obsolete, 

 the lower one acute and elongated ; keel falcate, pushing back 

 the broad, plicate vexillum at top; ovary sheathed at base. 



Greek name for the wild pear, which tlje root resembles in form. — Perenni- 

 al herbs, twining, smooth. Root bearing edible tubers. Lvs. of 5 — 7 leaflets. 



A. TUBERO'SA. P. Glycine apios. L. 



Leaves pinnate, of 7 ovate-lanceolate leaflets ; racemes shorter than the 

 leaves; stem twining. Found in shady woods and thickets, twining about 

 other plants. Stem round, 2 — 4 feet in length. Leaves rather numerous, 

 each consisting of 3 (rarely 2) pairs of leaflets and an odd, terminal one. These 

 are ovate, narrow, more or less pointed, smooth, on short pedicels. Racemes 

 axillary, solitary, 1 — 3 inches long, crowded. Flowers dark purple. To the 

 root are appended oval, fleshy tubers, which are very nutritious, and would 

 perhaps be cultivated had we not the potato. Jl. Aug. Per. Ground j\iit. 



22. COLLU'TRA. 

 Calyx 5-toothed ; vexillum with 2 callosities, unfurled, larg- 

 ef than the blunt carina; stigma lateral, under the hooked 



