CALYCIFLOE.U. 519 



alternate and stipulate, and usually compound. Flowers regu- 

 lar or irregular, often papilionaceous. Calyx inferior, 5-parted; 

 odd division anterior. Petals 5, or fewer by abortion, or none, 

 perigynous, odd one, when present, posterior, k^ftamens distinct, 

 or coherent in 1 or more bundles. Ovary superior simple, 

 1 -celled; style simple, proceeding from the ventral suture. 

 Fruit usually a legume, or sometimes a lomentum, and rarely a 

 drupe. Seeds 1 or more, with or without albumen. This order 

 may be usually distinguished by having imjpilionaccous flowers, or 

 leguminous fruit. 



Division of the Order, and Examples of the Genera. — The order 

 has been divided into three sub-orders as follows : — 



Sub-Order 1. Papilioxace^-:. — Petals papilionaceous, im- 

 bricated in aestivation, and the upper or odd petal exterior. 

 Examples of the Genera: — Ulex, Trifolium, Astragalus, Vicia, 

 Ornithopus, Onobrychis. 



Sub-Order 2. C^salpixie.^. — Petals not papilionaceous, 

 imbricated in aestivation, and the upper or odd petal inside the 

 lateral petals. Examples of the Genera: — Caei^alpinia, Cassia, 

 Tamarindus. 



Sub-Order 3. Mimoseje. — Petals equal and valvate in sesti- 

 vation. Examples of the Genera : — Mimosa, Acacia. 



Distrilmtion and Numbers. — This is a very extensive order, and 

 has some representatives in almost every part of the world. A con- 

 siderable number of the genera are confined within certain geo- 

 graphical limits, while others have a very wide range. As a gene- 

 ral rule, the Papilionace^ are universally distributed, although 

 most abundant in warm regions; while the CcBsalpinie(e and 

 MimosecB are most common in tropical regions, but many of the 

 latter are also to be found in Australia. There are about 7,000 

 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The properties and uses of the plants 

 of this order are exceedingly variable. Lindley remarks, that 

 "the Leguminous Order is not only among the most extensive 

 that are known, but also one of the most important to man, 

 whether we consider the beauty of the numerous species, which 

 are among the gayest-coloured and most graceful plants of 

 every region ; or their applicability to a thousand useful pur- 

 poses. The Cercis, which renders the gardens of Turkey re- 

 splendent with its myriads of purple flowers ; the Acacia, not 

 less valued for its airy foliage and elegant blossoms, than for its 

 hard and durable wood ; the Braziletto, Logwood, and Eose- 

 woods of commerce ; the Laburnum; the classical Cytisus ; the 

 Furze and the Broom, both the pride of the otherwise dreary 

 heaths of Europe; the Bean, the Pea, the Vetch, the Clover, the 

 Trefoil, the Lucerne, all staple articles of culture by the fanner, 

 are so many Leguminous species. The gums Arabic and 

 Senegal, Kino, Senna, Tragacanth, and various other drugs, not 



