278 »XL. LEGUMixos.^. \C(Esalpnia. 



and now naturalized in the W. Indies and some other tropical countries. It may therefore 

 possibly he an introduced plant also in Australia. 



76. MEZONEURUM, Desf. 



Sepals 5, shortly united at the base, much imbricated, the lowest one larger 

 'and coucave. Petals 5, spreading, rather unequal, the upper inner one the 

 smallest, the 2 outer lower ones the largest. Stamens free ; anthers uniform, 

 ovate or oblong. Ovary with 2 or more ovules ; style subulate, with a very 

 small terminal stigma. Pod quite flat, very thin or coriaceous, indehisceut or 

 opening tardily in 2 valves, the upper suture bordered by a wing. Seeds very 

 flat reniform or orbicular, with a small lateral hilum ; albumen none. — Woody 

 climbers (or rarely erect ?), sparingly armed with small prickles, usually only 

 at the base of the pinnae of the leaves. Leaves abruptly bipinnate. Flowers 

 (yellow^ ?) in racemes, either simple in the uppel^ axils or forming large ter- 

 mina] panicles. Filaments glabrous or sKghtly hairy. 



The geiius is dispersed over tropical Asia and Africa, with one Australian species wLica 

 appears to be endemic. 



1. M. brachycarpum, Benth. Apparently climbing, the branches and 

 petioles tomentose-pubescent, unarmed except a minute prickle under each 

 raceme and a rather larger recurved one under each pinna of the leaf. Leaves 

 often above 1 ft. long ; pinnsG 3 to 8 pairs, each 3 to 4 in. long ; leaflets 4 

 to 10 pairs, ovate-oblong, veiy obtuse or retuse, | to f in. long, very oblique 

 at the bas^, glabrous above, pubescent nnderneath. Eacemes paniculate, 

 about I ft. long, clothed with a golden-yellow pubescence; pedicels veiy 

 short. Flowers much Smaller than in the rest of the genus, the calyx-lobes 

 not above 2 Unes long and the petals scarcely exceeding them. Filaments 

 rather longer, slightly bearded at the base. Style filiform, with a shgb J 

 dilated stigma. Ovules 3 (or sometimes 3?}. Pod obliquely and broadly 

 obovate or' almost orbicular, nearly 2 in. long and 1^ in. broad, more coria- 

 ceous than in most species, and perhaps dehiscent, the wing of the upper 

 suture about 2 lines broad. Seed large, solitary, very flat, reniform, witu a 

 veiy small hilum. 



Queensland. Wide Bay, Bldwill (in fruit and leaves) ; Araucaria Kange, Moreton 

 Bay, F. Mueller (leaves only). 



N. S. V^ales. Richmond river, C. Moore (flowers' and fragments of leaves). 



PTEROLOBIUM, K 



Sepals 5, united in a cup at the base, much imbricate, the lowest lo ^ 

 and concave. Petals 5, spreading, the 2 lowest rather larger than the ot i ^^ 

 Stamens 10, free; anthers ovate, uniform. Ovary sessile, with ^f^ 



ovule. 



stisrma 



sile, samaroid, the lower seed-bearing part obliquely ovate or lanceolat . 

 dehiscent, ending in an oblique oblong or falcate membranous wnig. 

 attached near the apex of the cell, flat, without albumen.— Trees or w^ ^^j 

 climbers, armed with scattered hooked prickles, especially at the base o 

 pmna3 of the leaves. Leaves abruptly bipinnate. Flowers in racemes, c 

 simple or forming terminal panicles. Filaments usually bearded. 



