Sparsiflorl, 129 
81. Astragalus villosus Mx. Fl. 2 67 (1807), A. intonsus Sheldon, 
Phaca villosa (Mx.) Nutt. Pods about 2 cm. long, acuminate at both 
ends, narrowly lunate, appearing as if lanceoläte but not larger 
below, about 3 mm. high in the middle, rather deeply sulcate dor- 
sally. Flowers about 1 cm. long, in oblong heads, rather many, 
white or cream-colored. Banner about 6 mm. long, strongly arched 
near the end of the tube to nearly erect, about 4 mm. longer than 
keel and 2-3 mm. longer than wings. Wings about 1 mm. wide, con- 
spicuously arched. Keel about 4 mm. long, barely surpassing the 
calyx lobes, with the base arched and then abruptly erect to the 
triangular tip which is acute and slightly turned out and cuspidate. 
Calyx tube 2-3 mm. long, green, obliquely campanulate, the lower 
side somewhat narrowed at the pedicel and the upper side inclined 
to be saccate, but pedicel inserted in the middle of the end; teeth 
broad with triangular base and subulate above, as long as or nearly 
twice as long as tube.  Bracts lanceolate, green, 2-3 mm. long, 
longer than the fruiting pedicels. Peduncles about 1 dm. long, the 
fruiting rachis about 2 cm. long. Stems very weak, with many 
rather short internodes, hardly a foot long, nearly prostrate, much 
branched below and from very slender underground stems, the lower 
internodes with large overlapping stipules which are rather connate 
behind the petioles but not in front, and adnate, green, 1 cm. long, 
triangular- ‘acuminate, reflexed. Leaves lax, 1 dm. long or less, with 
weak and scarcely tapering rachis. Leaflets 6-8 pairs, the terminal 
one the largest, and gradually smaller below, about oval, rounded, 
rarely notched, the base not noticeably cuneate, short-petiolulate, the 
largest rarely 8 mm. long, thin. Pubescence, loose, long, of very 
slender, twisted, blunt, straight hairs, someewhat spreading, and 
never very dense, the upper side of leaves smooth, the calyx, 
pods, peduncles and stems shaggy. Dry pine barrens from South 
Carolina to Florida and westward to Louisana and Missouri. Lower 
part of Lower Temperate to the Tropical life zone. Blooms from 
March to May. I keep up the name of Michaux instead of the inton- 
sus of Sheldon for the reason that the A. villosus of Gueldenst. It. 2 
178 seems to have been only incidently named. 
82. Astragalus obcordatus Ell. Sketchb. 2 227 (1822) A. Elliotti 
Dietr., Tragacantha Kuntze, Tium Rydb. Pods crescent shaped, 2-3 
cm. long, about 7 mm. high, acute at both ends, chartaceous, smooth, 
sulcate nearly to the middle dorsally, very shortly-stipitate, the sides 
inclined to concave, walls with raised reticulations, Flowers 5-8 mm. 
long, pale-purple or nearly white, loosely spicate, 5-15. Banner 4-6 mm. 
long, arched rather abruptly at end of teeth to erect, with reflexed 
sides 1-2 mm. longer than wings which are about 1 mm. longer than keel 
and much arched, Keel with straight base and abruptly erect and 
blunt tip mostly purplish, about 3 mm. long. Calyx rather narrowly 
campamulate, hyaline, the tube 2 mm. long, rather narrowed below and 
. inserted a little below the middle of the end, sparsely appressed- 
short-pubescent, teeth narrowly triangular, as long as tube, the lower 
the longer and arched. Bracts minute, ovate, shorter than the short 
and filiform pedicels. Peduncles filiform, 5-10 cm. long. Leaves 
7-10 cm. long, with filiform rachis. Leaflets obcordate, rarely 6 mm. 
long, with short-cuneate base, rather long-petiolulate, 7-12 pairs, the 
central ones the largest and tapering both ways on rachis. Stems 
as in villosus, but stipules minute. Whole plant except the calyx 
smooth. Among scrub oaks and in dry pine barrens Florida to Geor- 
gia. Blooming in March and April. Tropical. A very close rela- 
tive of A. villosus. 
83. Astragalus sparsiflorus Gray Proc. Phil Acad. 2 7 60 (1863) 
name only, and Proc. Am. Acad. 6 205 (1864). Tium variegatum Ryd- 
berg. Pods 5-10 mm. long, larger above, obovate to clavate-oblong - 
