2 LEGUMINOS.E. 



OrpehI. LEGUMINOS/E. 



Boerhaave, Hortus Academicus, ii. 22 (1720) ; Haller, Stirp. Helvet. 565 

 (1742) ; Juss. Gen. 345 (1789). 



Herbs, shrubs or trees with alternate, stipulate, compound (in Cerci>^ 

 simple) leaves ; leaflets mostly entire, a few of the upper, in some 

 genera, converted into tendrils. Sepals more or less united and forming 

 a 2— 5-toothed or -cleft cup, the odd tooth or segment inferior. Petals 5 

 (sometimes by abortion fewer), more or less united above the base ; the 

 two lowest joining to form the kyel ; the two lateral enfolding this and 

 called the wings ; the uppermost one broader than the others, usually 

 erect, but in the bud folded down over the others (except in Cercis) and 

 called the banner ; the corolla as a whole papilionaceous, or butterfly- 

 shaped. Stamens usually 10, distinct or diadelphous (9 and 1), or mona- 

 delphous. Pistil 1, usually becoming a legume, i. e., a 2-valved 1-celled 

 pod with 1 row of seeds ; these attached to the upper suture, and contain- 

 ing no albumen, the large embryo filling the integuments. 



Hints of the Wenera. 



Leaves simple, -.-------------1 



equally pinnate, mostly tendril-bearing, ------- 2, .S 



" unequally pinnate ; leafletb several pairs, ------ 4—9 



pinnately 3-foliolate, - - 8, 9, 11, 12 



palmately 3-foliolate, ----- ]0, 18 



" palmately 5— 9-foliolate, -----------10,16 



Unarmed shrubs ; leaves variously l~3foli<)late, - - - - - - 13,1.') 



Spinescent shrubs ; leaflets 3, 1 or 0, - - - - - - - - - 14, 17 



1. CERCIS, Linnreus (Eed Bud). Shrubs with simple leaves ; the 

 flowers in axillary fascicles, appearing in spring before the leaves. Calyx 

 campanulate, with 5 broad obtuse teeth. Petals 5, the banner small, 

 enfolded by the wings ; keel-petals distinct, larger than the wings. 

 Stamens 10, distinct. Pod thin, flat, oblong, wing-margined along the 

 upper suture. 



1. C. occidentalis, Torr. in Gray, PI. Lindh. 177 (1845). Widely 

 branching, 6—20 ft. high : leaves round-cordate, entire, obtuse or emargi- 

 nate, 2 in. broad, on petioles of 1 in. or less : &. % in. long, rose-purple : 

 pod 2 in. long, ^^ in. broad, acute at each end. — In the Coast Range from 

 near Sunol, Behr, northward ; also in the Sierra at low altitudes. Very 

 beautiful when in flower. Apr. 



2. VICIA, Van-o (Vetch). Weak herbs with angular stems, climbing 

 by tendrils which terminate the pinnate leaves. Peduncles axillary, 

 1 — 00 - flowered. Calyx 5-cleft or -toothed, the upper teeth shorter. 

 Stamens diadelphous (9 and 1). Style filiform, bent upward at apex and 

 villous all around, under the stigma, or else on the outside only. Pod 

 oblong, several-seeded. 



* Raceinofte-Jioire red peretinials. 



