Order 46— LEGUMINOS^E. 297 



diadelphous. monadelphous or distinct. Anthers versatile. Ova superior, single anfl 

 simple. Style and stigma simple. Fr. a legume, either continuous (1 -celled), or 

 (a loment), joined into 1-seedeJ cells. Sds. solitary or several, destitute of albumen. 

 Illust ill figs. 99, 133, 160, 161, 131, 103, ITT, 180, 181, 131, 300, 816, 317, 363, 445, 446, 466. 

 The genera and species of this vast order were estimated by Mr. Bentham in 1845 as 

 follows: 



Suborder 1. Papilionacea?, 850 genera, 4S0O species. 

 " 2. Caesalpinew, S3 " 7u0 " 

 " 4. Miuioseaj, 29 » 1000 " 



" Total, 467 " 6500 



Geography. — The LeguminostB are distributed throughout all lands, with the exception of a 

 few unimportant islands, from the equator to the frigid zones. Of its 6500 species now knowa, 

 about 35o are natives of the United States and Territories. 



Properties. — No family of the vegetable kingdom possesses a higher claim to the attention of 

 the naturalist than the Lcguminosffi, whether we regard them as objects of ornament or utility. 

 Of the firmer, we misciit mention the splendid varieties of Cercis, with their purple flowers the' 

 Acacias, with their airy foliage and silken stamens, the Pride of India. Colutea and Csesalpina, 

 with a host of others, which, like the Sweet Pea, are redolent with perfume. Of the latter, the 

 beans, peas, lentils, clover and lucerne, are too well known to require recommendation. Among 

 timber trees, the Rosewood (a Brazilian species of Mimosa), the Laburnum, whose wood is 

 durable and of an olive-green color, and the Locust of our own country are preeminent. 



The following are a few of the important officinal products of this order. In medicine; 

 liquorice is the product of the root of Glycyrrhiza glabra of S. Europe. The purgative senna 

 consists of leaves of Cassia Senna, C. acutifolia, C. JEthiopica, and other species of Egypt and 

 Arabia. C. Marylandica is also a cathartic, but more mild than the former. The sweet pulp 

 tamarind, is the product of a large and beautiful tree (Tamarindus Indira) of the E. and W. 

 Indies. Resins and Balsams: Gum. Senegal is yielded by Acacia Verek of the River Senegal ; 

 Gum Arabic, by several species of Acacia of Central Africa; Gum Tragacynth, by Astragalus 

 verus, Ac., Persia. Balsam Copaiva is the product, of several species of Copaifera. natives of 

 Brazil and W. Indies; Balsam Tola of Myospermum toluifernum of Peru, and Balsam Peru. 

 of M. perniferum of the same country. Dyes. ifcc. : Indigo, the most valuable of all ( but a violent 

 poison), is the product of several southern species of Indigolera, as I. anil of the W. Indies, and 

 I. argentea of Egypt. Brazil-ioood from Ca-salpina Braziliensis. Log-wood from Hxmatoxylon 

 Campeachianuui, of Campeachy, and Red Sandal-wood from Pterocarpus santaliuus of Egypt, 

 &c, &c. 



SUBORDERS, TRIBES AND GENERA. 

 § Corolla valvato in aestivation, regular. Flowers in dense heads or 6pikes. 



Leaves twice pinnate Suborder I. (a) 



§ Corolla imbricate in aestivation, the upper or odd petal interior or the 



flower subregular Suborder II. (bl 



§ Corolla imbricate in aestivation, the upper petal (vexillum) exterior 



Flowers papilionaceous Suborder III. (♦) 



* Stamens 10, all distinct. Trihe 1. (c) 



* Stamens 10, all or 9 united (2) 



2 Leaves cirrhous, the rachis ending with a tendril. Tribe 2. (d) 

 2 Leaves not cirrhous. (3) 

 3 Pod a loment (§373), of transverse, 1-seeded joints. Tribe 8. (e) 

 3 Pod a legume 1 — 2 — GO-seeded. not in joints. (4) 

 4 Erect (or, if prostrate, with palmately 8-foliate leaves). Cotyledons thin, 



becoming leafy in germination. Tribe 4. (f) 

 4 Trailing or twining vines with pinnately compound leaves. 

 Cotyledons thick, not becoming leaves in germination. Tribe 5. (g) 



Suborder I. MIMOSE^E. 



a Pods flat, composed of one or more 1-seeded joints Mimosa, 1 



a Pods continuous,— prickly, 4-sided and 4-valved Scurankia. 2 



—smooth,— turgid, filled with pulp Vachellia. 3 



— compressed, dry, — Fls. all perfect Desmantiics. 4 



— Fls. polygamous Acacia, S 



Suborder II. C^ESALPINEJS. 



b Fls. dioeccous, greenish, stamens 10. A tree unarmed Gymnocladits. 6 



b Fls. polygamous, green, stamens 5. Trees thorny Gleditschia. T 



b Fls. perfect, — yello w. — Leaves equally pinnate Cassia. 8 



— purple, papilionaceous. Leaves simple Cersis. 9 



Suborder III. PAPILIONACESE. 



O 1 Podalyriex.— Legume flat and thin.short-stiped. Lvs. pinnate Cladastris. 19 



—Legume inflated, stipitate. Lvs. palmately 1— 3-foliato Bap-usja. U 



