68 NEW PLANTS, ETC., 



prominent dorsal line ; terminated by a point about half an inch 

 long. Seeds in a single row, spherical, the size of mustard, deep 

 purplish brown, about the colour of ill-ripened turnip seed, with 

 scarcely any pungency when bitten. These pods are produced in 

 very great abundance, and each contains about 30 seeds. 



It is a hardy annual which will grow freely in almost any sort 

 of soil. The seed should be sown in April, in a sheltered situa- 

 tion, then in May the plants may be planted out where they are 

 to remain, allowing 2 feet between each plant. 



This appears to be of no importance in a horticultural point of 

 view. It may be cultivated by farmers for feeding cattle, or it 

 may be grown for the same purpose as it is in China. 



Aug. 22, 1845. 



9. Indigofera decora.* 



Received from Mr. Fortune, May 1, 1845. 



A dark-green handsome bush, with somewhat glaucous 

 branches. The leaves are pinnate in from 2 to 5 pairs and an 

 odd one, quite smooth on the upper side, but slightly covered on 

 the under side with very fine liairs, attached by their middle ; 

 the leaflets are exactly ovate, with a short bristle at their ejid, 

 between \^ and 2 inches long, of a very dark green colour ; and 

 to each pair there are two short bristle-like stipules. The 

 flowers grow from the axils of the leaves in horizontal racemes 

 much shorter than the leaves themselves ; they are of a light 

 rose colour and very liandsome. The calyx is a flat membranous 

 5-toothed cup, with the two upper teeth very far apart. Tlie 

 standard of the corolla is oblong, nearly flat, very sliglitly keeled 

 behind, nearly white, but pencilled with delicate crimson lines 

 near the base ; in length it is equal to the wings and keel, and 

 forms with them an angle of about 45° when expanded ; the 

 wings are narrowly lanceolate and ciliated, of a pale bi'iglit rose 

 colour ; the keel is rather paler, and bordered with a woolly 

 or very downy upper edge. 



It is a greenhouse plant which will grow freely in almost any 

 sort of soil, especially sandy peat. In summer an ample supply of 

 water is required, and air at all times when the weather is 

 favourable. To prevent the leaves from being scorched by the 

 sun, it will be necessary to use shading. In winter water should 



* /. decora ; fruticosa, glabra, glaucescens, foliis pinnatis, petiolis 2-5-jugis 

 exacte ovatis obtusis cum mucrone subtiis pilis spar.sis peltatis obsitis, 

 racemis densis foliis duplu brevioribus, calyce piano membrauaceo 5-deutato, 

 vexillo oblongo, carina; margine superioie villoso. — J. L. 



