Desmodicm. XLVII. LEGUMINOS^. 231 



27. DESMODIUM. DC. 



Gr. Seaitoi, a boiiil ; in reference to the slightly connected joiiiU of the lomcnt? 



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

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

 monadclplious ; legume (loment) compressed, composed of several 

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

 baceous or si/Jfruticose. Lvs. pinnatclij trifoliate. 



* Stamens all comieclcd. Calyx toothed or entire. 



1. D. NUDiFLORUM. DC. (Hcdysarum. Linn.) 



Lfts. roundish-ovate,acuminatc,.sli«:htly glaucous beneath; scape radical, 

 panicled, smooth; joints of the loment 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 — 3f 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 pedimcle. — 

 Common in woods, U. S. and Can. Stem 8 — 12' high, ending in a slender 

 panicle 1 or 2f long. Leaves 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. Null.) 



St. as.surgent, 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; roc. termi- 

 nal, few-flowered ; /5. in pairs; pet. 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, § — | as wide. Flowers 2 — 6, white or 

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

 * * Stamens diadelphoiis or the tenth stamen nearly free. 



4. D. Canadf.nse. DC. (Hedysarum Canadense. Linn.) Bu^h Trefoil. 



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

 acuminate ; fis. racemcd; joiyits of the loment obtusely triangular, hispid. — Rath- 

 er common in woods. Can. to Penn. and la. A handsome plant about 3f in 

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

 ly smooth. Flowers purple, in axillary and terminal racemes Avith 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; pan. 

 terminal, very long, densely canescent, naked; joints of the lomc^it triangular; 

 iipper lip of the calyx nearly entire. — Woods, N. Eng. to Flor. An upright, 

 branching"plant, with very long panicles of flowers greenish externally, purple 

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



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

 Dillenius^ Dcsmodinm. 



Plant erect, branching, hair}' ; lfts. oblong, villose beneath ; slip, subu- 

 late; roc. panicled; joints of the loment 2, 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. DC. H. bract. 7J/r.) 

 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- 



20* 



