CHAP. I.] LEGUMINOS^. 349 



are liandsome, though without petals, from the 

 anthers being yellow, and the stigmas crimson. 

 The different species of Sumach, or Rhus, are all 

 poisonous ; and the Venetian Sumach {Rhus 

 cotinus) is remarkable from the appearance 

 presented by its flower-stalks in autumn ; as all 

 the flower-stalks which do not bear fruit dilate, 

 after the flowers have dropped, and become 

 covered with a great quantity of white cottony 

 hair, which makes each panicle resemble a 

 powdered wig ; and hence, the French call the 

 tree Arbre a perruque. 



ORDER LXVIL— LEGUMINOS^.— (See Chap. II. 

 IN P. 35.) 



The plants belonging to this order have alter- 

 nate leaves, which are generally compound, and 

 frequently have the common petiole tumid ; 

 the}^ have also two stipules at the base of the 

 petiole, and frequently two others to each 

 leaflet. The pedicels are usually articulated, 

 and the flowers are furnished with small bracts. 

 The flowers have a five-parted calyx, and a 

 corolla, sometimes papilionaceous, and some- 

 times spreading, which has never more than five 

 petals, though it has frequently less. The fruit 

 is a legume, though sometimes, when there is 

 only one seed, it has the appearance of a drupe. 



