XLVili. M;(;t'MiNos.'r:, 3S1 



trapezoidal , 3-6 by 2-4 in., the lateral leaflets ()])posite, obliquely ovate, 

 cordate, 3-4 by 1 2-'3in.,on petiolules j', in. long,all glabrous above, f^labroiis 

 or more or less downy beneath, distantly and shallowly crenate, bluntly 

 pointed; main nerves 4-8 pairs, prominent : stipules subulate. Flowers 

 numerous, in short fascicled racerm-s from tbe nodes of old branches; 

 pedicels colored, 4-| in. long, filiform ; bracts ^\f in. long, ovate, acumi- 

 nate, broader than long, villous outside; bracteole 1 beneath the calyx, 

 minute, villous. Calyx i-^ in. long, pubescent; teeth short, triangular. 

 Corolla |-j in. long, white or rose-colored, somewhat fragrant. Pods 

 2-3 in. long ; joints reticulatelv veined, 2-3 times as long as broad, 

 Fl. B. I. V. 2, p. 161 ; Bedd. Flor! Sylvat. t. 30 ; Talb. Trees, Bomb. p. 60 ; 

 Woodr. in Journ. Bomb. Nat. v. 11 (1897) p. 423 ; Watt, Diet. Econ. 

 Prod. V. 5, p. 657. Dalhergia oiu/einensis, Eoxb. Hort. Beng. p. 53 ; 

 Wight, Icon. t. 391 ; Dalz. & Gibs.' p. 78.— Flowers : Feb.-May. Vern. 

 Tivas ; Kdlci-pdlns. 



Konkan: DaJ:eU S,- Gibson. Deccan ; hills near Poona, WW/ra!/j! ; Kartriz Gliat, 

 Gaha\\ Khandesh, Talbot; Dapuri garden, Dalzclll Gujakat : Dang jungles, 

 Dalzell S; Gibson. Kanara : Yellapur forests of N. Kanara, common, Talbot. — 

 DiSTRiB. India (Northern Provinces). 



The bark affords a fine Kino and is used medicinally {Dalzell tf" Gibson). Tbe 

 wood is highly valued for its toughness. See Watt, Diet. Econ. Prod. 1. c. 



31. DESMODIUM, Desv. 



Herbs or shrubs (rarely small trees). Leaves pinnately 1-3- (rarely 

 5-) foliolate ; stipules usually striate, dry, free or united into 1 leaf- 

 opposed one. Leaflets stipellate, often large. Flowers usually small, 

 in copious usually dense racemes, bracteate. Calyx-tube short, the 2 

 upper teeth more or less connate, the 3 lower acute or acuminate. 

 Corolla exserted ; standard oblong, obovate or orbicular ; u ings ob- 

 liquely oblong, more or less adhering to the keel ; keel obtuse. Vexil- 

 lary stamen entirely or partially free, the other 9 united ; anthers 

 uniform. Ovary sessile or stalked ; ovules 2-oo : style incurved ; stigma 

 terminal, minute, capitate. Pod exserted from the calyx, sessile or 

 stalked, usually formed of several 1-seeded indebiscent joints, the faces 

 compressed, the upper suture rarely splitting open, the joints usually 

 separating. — Disteib. Throughout the Tropics of both hemispheres, a 

 few in N. America and temperate S. Africa; species about 150. 



Leaves 3-foliolate. 



Shrubs or undersbrubs. 



Flowers in axillary peduncled umbels. 



Branches terete 1. D. umbel I at urn. 



Branches t riquet rous 2. B. Cephalotes. 



Flowers in terminal and axillary racemes. 

 Pod indehiscent. 



Bracts large, leafy, concealing the flowers 3. D. pulckellum. 



Bracts small, scarious, not concealing tbe flowers ... 4. i>. laxiflorum. 



Pod dehiscent 5. D. iwlycarpuiu. 



Herbs. 



Erect ; stipules foliaceous, auricled 6. D. diffusum. 



Trailing; stipules scarious, not auricled 7. D. irifiorum. 



Leaves 1-foliolate. 



Shrubs or undersbrubs. 



Petiole winged 8. D. friquetrum. 



