87 



is the produce of Parinariutn excelsum. The kernel of Parinarium cam- 

 pestre and niontanum is said l)y Aublet to be sweet and good to eat. 

 Examples. Chrysobalanus, Parinarium, Hirtella. 



LXXVII. LEGUMINOStE. The Pea Tribe. 



Leguminos.*:, Juss. Gen. 345. (1789) ; Brown Diss. (1822) ; Dec. Prodr. 2. 93. (1825) , 

 Lindl. Si/nops. 75- (1829.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with a terminal style and soli- 

 tary simple superior ovarium, perigynous definite stamens, exalbuminous 

 seeds, peritropal ovula, leguminous fruit, and alternate stipulate leaves. 



Anomalies. The Detariums are apetalous and drupaceous. Ceratonia, 

 Copaifera, and five or six other genera, are also apetalous. Some Mimoseae 

 are monopetalous ; the latter section and Svvartziese have usually also hypo- 

 gynous stamens. Diphaca and a species of Caesalpinia have regularly 2 

 ovaria. Ormosia has 2 stigmas. Dec. Sophora, Myrospermum, and some 

 others, have no stipulae. Some have opposite leaves. 



Essential Chahacter Calyx 5-parted, toothed, or cleft, inferior, with the odd 



segment anterior ; tlie segments often unequal, and variously combined. Petals 5, or by 

 abortion 4, 3, 2, 1, or none, inserted into the base of the calyx, either papilionaceous or 

 regularly spreading ; the odd petal posterior. Stamens definite or indefinite, perigynous, 

 either distinct or monadelphous, or diadelphous ; very seldom triadelphous ; anthers ver- 

 satile. Ovarium simple, superior, l-ceUed, 1- or many-seeded; style simple, proceeding 

 from the upper margin ; stigma simple. Fruit either a legume or a drupe. Seeds attached 

 to the upper suture, solitary or several, occasionally with an arillus ; embryo destitute of 

 albumen, either straight or with the radicle bent upon the cotyledons ; cotyledmis either 

 remaining under ground in germination, or elevated above the ground, and becoming 

 green like leaves Herbaceous plants, shrubs, or vast trees, extremely variable in appear- 

 ance. Leaves alternate, most commonly compressed ; petiole tumid at the base. Stipules 

 2 at the base of the petiole, and 2 at the base of each leaflet. Pedicels usually articulated, 

 with 2 bracteolaj under the flower. 



Affinities. The most common feature is, to have what are called 

 papilionaceous flowers ; and when these exist, no difficulty is experienced 

 in recognising the order, for papilionaceous flowers are found no where else. 

 Another and a more invariable character is to have a leguminous fruit; and 

 by one of these two characters all the plants of the family are known. It is 

 remarkable, however, for the complete obliteration of one or other of 

 these distinctions in many cases. Mimosa and its allies have, instead 

 of the irregular arrangement which characterises a papilionaceous flower, 

 its parts of fructification disposed with the utmost symmetry; and Deta- 

 rium, instead of a legumen, bears a fruit not distinguishable from a drupe. 

 This last circumstance is easily to be understood, if we bear in mind that 

 a legume and a drupe differ more in name than reality, the latter being 

 formed upon precisely the same plan as the former, but with this modi- 

 fication, that its pericarpium is thickened, more or less fleshy on the out- 

 side and stony on the inside, 1 -seeded, and indehiscent. Hence some of 

 the regular-flowered genera with distinct stamens may be said to be Rosa- 

 ceous in flower, and Leguminous in fruit. Simple, therefore, as the diagnosis 

 of the order usually is, Mr. Brown is perfectly correct in asserting that, 

 until he indicated the difference of the position of the odd lobe of the calyx 

 in LeguminosEe and Rosacese (Amygdalese), no positive character had been 

 discovered to distinguish the one order from the other. The presence of 

 stipul-cc at the base of the leaflets of the compound leaves of Leguminosa; 



