LEGUMINOSiE. (POLSE FAMILY.) 149 



1 - many-seeded. Seeds flat. — Thorny trees, with abruptly once or twice pin- 

 nate leaves, and inconspicuous greenisli fiowers in small spikes. Thorns above 

 the axils. (Named in honor of J. G. Gleditsch, a botanist coutemporarv with 

 Liunaius.) 



1. G. triaeanthos, L. (Three-thorned Acacia, or HoNEY-Locrsx.) 

 Thorns stout, often triple or compound; leaflets lanceolate -oblong, somewhat 

 serrate; pods linear, elongated (1-1-^° longli often twisted, filled with sweet 

 pulp between the seeds — Rich woods, western N. Y. and Penn. to Ga., west 

 to Mich., E. Neb., Kan., and La. A large tree, common in cultivation, with 

 very hard and heaA'y wood. 



2. G. aquatica, Marsh. (Water-Locust.) Thorns slender, mostly 

 simple; leaflets ovate or oblong ; pods oval, "[-seeded, pulpless. (G. monosper- 

 ma, Walt.) — Deep swamps, Mo, to S. Ind., S. Car., and southward. A smaller 

 tree, 30 - 40° high. 



45. DESMANTHUS, Willd. 



Flowers perfect or polygamous, regular. Calyx campauulate, 5-toothed. 

 Petals 5, distinct. Stamens 5 or 10. Pod flat, membranaceous or somewhat 

 coriaceous, several-seeded, 2-valved, smooth. — Herbs, with twice-pinnate leaves 

 of numerous small leaflets, and with one or more glands on the petiole, seta- 

 ceous stipules, and axillary peduncles bearing a head of small greenish-white 

 flowers. (Name composed of SeV/ta, a bond, and 6.vQos, flower.) 



1. D. brach^lobus, Benth. Nearly glabrous perennial, erect (1-4° 

 high) ; pinnai 6-15 pairs ; leaflets 20-30 pairs ; peduncles 1-3' long ; stamens 

 5 ; pods numerous in dense globose heads, oblong or lanceolate, curved, scarcelv 

 riong, 2-6-seeded. — Prairies and alluvial banks, Ind and Ky. to Minn., Mo., 

 and Tex. ; also in Fla. 



2. D. leptolobus, Torr. & Gray. Pinnse 5-8 pairs; leaflets 10-20 

 pairs; peduncles V long or less; heads rather loose, stamens h ; /lods usually 

 few, narrowli] linear, erect, 1-2' long. — Central Kan. to Tex. 



46. SCHRANKIA, Willd. Sensitive Briar. 



Flowers polygamous, regular. Calyx minute, 5-toothed. Petals united into 

 a funnel-form 5-cleft corolla. Stamens 10-12, distinct, or the filaments united 

 at base. Pods long and narrow, rough-prickly, several-seeded, 4-valved, i. e., 

 the two narrow valves separating on each side from a tliickened margin — Pe 

 rennial herbs, nearly related to the true Sensitive Plants (^limosa) ; the procum- 

 bent stems and petioles recurved-prickly, with twice-pinnate sensitive leaves of 

 many small leaflets, and axillary peduncles bearing round heads of small rose- 

 colored flowers. (Named for F. P. Sc/irank, a German botanist.) 



J . S. uncin^ta, Willd. Prickles hooked ; pinnae 4-6 pairs; leaflets ellip- 

 tical, reticulated with strong veins beneath; pods oblong-linear, nearlv terete- 

 short-pointed, densely prickly (2' long). — Dry sandy soil, V^a. to Fla,, west to 

 S. 111., Kan., and Tex. 



2. S. angUStkta, Torr. & Gray. Lea/lets oblong-linear, scarcely veined ; 

 pods slender, taper-pointed, sparingly prickly (about 4' long). — S. Va. (^) to 

 Fla., Tenn., and Tex. 



