114 leguminos^e. (pulse family.) 



Suborder 11. C^SALPIIVIEtE. Brasiletto Family. 



42. CIRCIS, L. Red-BCD. 



Calyx campanulatc, 5-tootlicd. Petals all distinct, the vexilluSi shorter than 

 the wiiii,'s. Stiiniens 10, distinct. Legume oblong, compressed, many-seeded ; 

 the ui)per suture winged. — Trees, with broadly-cordate simple stipulate leaves, 

 and rcddisli-purjjle clustered flowers appearing before the leaves. 



1. C. Canadensis, L. — Rich soil, Florida to Mississipi, and northward. 

 February and March. — Tree 15° -20° liigh. Flowers very numerous, from 

 lateral buds. 



43. CASSIA, L. SicNNA. 



Calyx of 5 nearly distinct sepals. Petals 5, unequal. Stamens 5- 10. An- 

 thers mostly of diflTerent forms, opening by two terminal pores. Legume many- 

 seeded. Seeds often separated by cross partitions. — Herbs or shrubs. Leaves 

 abruptly pinnate. Flowers yellow. . 



* Stamens 10, unequal : part of the anthers abortive : sepals obtuse : stipules 



deciduous. 



1. C. OCCidentalis, L. Annual, smootliish ; stem stout, branching ; leaf- 

 lets about 10, ovate or ovatc-lanccolatc, acute ; petiole witli a globular gland at 

 the base; racemes 2-4-flowered, the upper ones crowded. — Waste places, com- 

 mon. — Stem l°-5°high. Legume linear, erect, compressed, slightly curved, 

 3' -4' long. 



2. C. obtusifolia, L. Annual, roughish ; stem slender, leaflets 6, cune- 

 atc-ohovatc, with a tooth-like gland between the lowest pair ; flowers by jiairs ; 

 legume narrow-linear, 4-angled, recurved. — Waste j)laccs, Florida to Nortli 

 Carolina, and westward Stem l°-4° high. Legume G'- 10' long 



3. C. Marilandica, L. Perennial, smoothish ; leaflets 12-18, ol)long, 

 acute; petiole witii a club-shaped gland near the base; racemes several-flowered, 

 the upper ones crowded, forming a compact panicle ; legume linear, slightly 

 curved. — Rich soil, Florida to Mississippi, and northward August. — Stem 

 3<'-4° high. Legume 3' -4' long. 



4. C. angUStisiliqua, Lam.? Smooth or nearly so; stem branched; 

 leaflets 6-10, oblong, nnicronate, very oblique at tlie base, hairy at the base 

 bencatii, with a globular gland on the petiole or i)etwcen the lowest pair of leaf- 

 lets ; flowers in a terminal jjanicle, on slender pedicels ; sepals oblong-obovate ; 

 petals yellow, veiny; perfect stamens oblong, the larger ones curved; legume 

 (3' -4' lon.r) broadly linear, flat, straight or somewhat falcate, many-.sccded. 

 — Souili Florida. Feb. — Leaflets 9" -12" long. Legumes 4' wide. 



•'). C. biflora, L. Shrubby; leaflets 4 - 10, oblong, narrowed at the biu;e, 

 mucron:itc, witli an obovoid gbmd between the lowest pair; racemes 2 - 4-flow- 

 cre<l, often by jtairs, slender, shorter than the leaves ; fertile nnthers 5 ; legume 

 linear, flat, stiiiight or somewluit falcate, sinootii, many-seeded. — Key West. — 

 Leaflets 1' long Legume 3' long, 2" wide. 



