294 



llu" wiiiiijS luo pjiiis, abtnil :iii iiicli Jisundi r, slioil : (lie Icatiels iiat- 

 row, nol very close: the peduncles axillary, suslaiiiinga small globu- 

 lar head ol purple flowers: llu- legumes tour-eornered, Iwo inelies 

 long, loui-cclled, iour-valved; containing several angular seeds in 

 each cell. Jl was ("oitnd at La Vera Cruz. 



'I'he ("ourlh species rises with a skMuler woody stalk, seven or v\ght 

 ieel high, armed with short recurved thorns: the leaves grow upon 

 long loot stalks which are ])rickly, each sustaining two pairs ot" wings; 

 the outer pair has two lobes which join at their base, and arc rounded 

 on the outside, but straight on the iimcr edges, shaped like a pair ot" 

 sheep-shears; they are much larger than the inner, arc almost two 

 inches long, and one inch broad in the middle: from llie place 

 where these are inserted into tlu^ stalk, come out small branches, 

 which have three or (bur globular heads ot" pale |)uri)lish flowers 

 coming out from the side, on short peduncles: and the principal 

 stalk has many oC those heads ol' liowers on llii' upper part lor more 

 than a foot in length; and this, as also the branches, is terminated 

 by similar heads of flowers: the pods are broad, flat, jointed, opening 

 by two valves, containing one, two, or three compressed orljieular 

 seeds: the leaves move but slowly when touched, but the foot-slalks 

 fall when they are pressed very hard. It is a nali\e of Brazil. 



The fifth has the roots comj)osed of many hairy libres, which sit 

 close together, from which come out several woody sialks, which 

 decline towards the ground, unless they are supported; (hey are 

 armed with short recurved spines, and have winged or pinnate 

 'eaves, composed of four, and sometimes five pinnas, whose bases 

 join at a point, where they are inserted into the foot-stalk, spreading 

 upwards like the fmgers of a hand: the liowers from the axils, on 

 short peduncles, collected in small globular heads, of a yellow co- 

 lour: the pods short, flat, jointed, in close clusters; almost covered 

 with stinging hairy covers. It is a native of Brazil. 



The sixth species has the spike roundish, nodding: the flowers 

 ten-stamened, and yellow; the lower ones of the spike without sta- 

 mens or petals. It is a native of the West Indies, flowering in July 

 aud August. 



