14 PAPILONACEOUS PLANTS. 



Red-bud (Cercis canadensis), and, in this plant, the 

 carina is formed of two distinct petals. 



In the common Red-clover ( Trifolium pratense) all 

 the petals are united together into a tubular base, so 

 that it is, in fact, monopetalous. In the Cassia, of any 

 species, (of which the most common, with us, is the 

 Cassia marilandica,) the corolla, though evidently 

 unequal in its proportions, consists of five spreading 

 yellow petals, and the stamens, all distinct to the base, 

 are disposed in a triple order, the three near the situ- 

 ation of the carina are furnished with large horn-like 

 black anthers, behind which occur four smaller an- 

 thers, and contiguous to the situation of the vexillum 

 three abortive stamens, or mere rudiments ; and in 

 the Honey-locust (Gleditscia triacanthos) and Coffee 

 bean (Gymnocladus canadensis), the papilionaceous 

 character of the flower altogether disappears, the co- 

 rolla being quite regular, but the fruit, more constant- 

 ly characteristic of the order, is still a legume contain- 

 ing b ;ans. 



In the leguminous tribe are included many useful 

 plants, such as Beans, Peas, Lentils, Lupins, Vetches, 

 Lucern, Saint-foin, Indigo, Liquorice, Kidney-beans. 

 The curious character of the last genus, is to have the 

 keel, and the stamens it includes, spirally twisted. 



In this tribe, the United States presents several 

 trees, particularly the common and Honey-locusts, 

 Coffee-bean, and the Virgilia of Tennessee. 



