LEGUMINOSAE— THERMOPSIS 



539 



racemes chiefly terminal ; flowers yellow, pod short-stalked and narrow and some- 

 what curved. 



Distribution. In the mountains of Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee. 



Thermopsis rhombifolia Richards. Prairie Thermopsis. 



An erect perennial from 1-2^ feet high, appressed, silky pubescent; stem 

 angular; leaves with broad conspicuous stipules; leaflets obovate, at length 

 nearly glabrous, bracts oval ; flowers yellow, in a rather short raceme of few 

 flowers ; pod linear and curved, spreading, several seeded. 



Distribution. In sandy soil and foot hills of the mountains from Manitoba 

 to South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas, west to the Rocky Mts., and in Utah, 

 Wyoming and Montana. 



Poisonous nature. This plant is very common in the foot hills, and is sup- 

 posed to produce poisoning of stock. It is often consumed by sheep. It is said 

 that the seeds of the plant are poisonous and the Canadian Department of Agri- 

 culture reports several cases of poisoning to children where the seeds were 

 eaten. T. montana is a species occurring from western Nebraska anl Kansas 

 to the Pacific Coast. Species of Thermopsis are said to contain cytisin. 



4. Baptisia Vent 



Perennial herbs with palmately 3-foliolate, or rarely simple leaves; basal 

 sheathing scales ; flowers large, in racemes ; calyx 4-5-toothed ; corolla with a 



Fig. 296. Yellow-flowered Bitter weed 

 {Thermopsis montana). Plant is exceedingly 

 bitter. (From U. S. Dept. Agr.) 



