89 



suture, but separate transversely; in Entada a combination of the pecu- 

 liarities of Carmichaelia and Lomentaceae occurs; and, finally, in Hsema- 

 toxylon the valves adhere by the suture and split along the axis. The 

 divisions which have been proposed in this extensive order are of unequal 

 value ; it is possible that two of them, namely, Mimosese and Caesalpinieee 

 may deserve, as Mr, Brown seems to think, the rank of independent orders; 

 for they really appear to be of the same importance with reference to Papi- 

 lionacese, as Amygdalese and Pomacese are with respect to Rosaceae, or as 

 Amyrideee, Connaracese, Anacardiaceae, and Burseracese, with respect to each 

 other. I give them, however, as I find them in Decandolle. 



His first and most important division depends upon the form of the 

 embryo, out of which arise the divisions called Curvembriae and Rectem- 

 briae ; viz. — 



CURVEMBRIM. 



Radicle bent back upon the cotyledons. 



These are distinguished into two tribes by the structure of their flowers, 

 viz. — 



Tribe 1. Swartzie.?:. 



Calyx bladdery, with indistinct lobes. Stamens hypogynous. Corolla 

 none, or petals only 1 or 2. 



Examples. Swartzia, Baphia. 



Tribe 2. Papilionace^. 



Calyx with distinct lobes. Stamens perigynous. Corolla papilionaceous. 



Examples. Vicia, Pisum, Sophora. 



The germination of this tribe varies thus: — some of the species push 

 their cotyledons above ground, which become green, resembling leaves ; and 

 of these none bear seeds which are eaten by man or animals : others germi- 

 nate with their cotyledons under ground, and it is among these only that 

 all the kinds which bear what we call pulse are found : the former Decan- 

 dolle calls Phyllolobece, and they are divided by him into sections, viz. 

 1. § Sophoreae, 2. § Loteae, 3. § Hedysareae; the latter he designates as 

 Sarcolobece, which comprehend, 4. § Vicieae, 5. § Phaseolese, 6. § Dal- 

 bergieae. 



RECTEMBRIM. 



Radicle of the embryo straight. 



The tribes are known by the position of their stamens and the sestiTa- 

 tion of their petals. 



Tribe 3. Mimose^e. 



Sepals and petals valvate in aestivation. Stamens hypogynous. 

 Examples. Acacia, Mimosa, Inga. 



Tribe 4. C^.SALPiNiEiE. 



Petals imbricated in aestivation, and stamens perigynous. 



Examples. Arachis, Caesalpinia, Cassia. 



Of the genera comprehended in this tribe, those which have petals, and 

 their stamens variously combined, are called § Geoffrieae; such as have petals, 

 the stamens being distinct, are § Cassieae ; and a couple of genera, with dru- 

 paceous fruit and no petals, constitute § Detarieae. 



The reader is referred to the 2d volume of Decandolle's Prodronms for 

 further information upon these divisions. 



Geoguaphy. The geographical distribution of this order has been 

 considered with great care by Decandolle, from whom I take the substance 

 of what follows. 



One of the first things that strikes the observer is, that if a number of 

 genera of Leguminosas have as extensive a range as those of other orders, 



