278 bignoniacejE. (bignonia family.) 



bell-shaped, 5- obed, somewhat irregular and 2-llpped, deciduous ; the low- 

 er lobs largest. Stamens inserted on the coroda ; the fifth or posterior one, 

 and sometimes the shorter pair also, sterile or rudimentary : anthers of 2 

 diverging cells. Ovary free, bearing a long style, with a 2-lipped stigma. 

 — Leaves compound or simple, opposite, rarely alternate. Flowers large 

 and showy. — Chiefly a tropical family ; only two species indigenous within 

 our limits. It includes two suborders, viz : — 



Suborder I. BIGNONIEJS. The True Bignonia Family. 



Woody plants, with 1 - 2-celled and 2-valved pods, the valves separating 



from the partition when there is any. Seeds transverse, very flat, winged; 



the broad and leaf-like cotyledons notched at both ends. 



1. BIGNONIA. Pod flattened parallel with the partition. Leaves compound. 



2 TECOMA. Pod with the convex valves contrary to the partition Leaves compound. 



3. CATALPA. Pod as in No. 2. Leaves simple. Fertile stamens only 2. 



Suborder II. SESAMEiE. The Sesamum Family. 



Herbs, with the fruit more or less 4 - 5-celled. Seeds attached by one 

 end, not winged ; the cotyledons thick and entire. 



4. MARTYNIA. Fertile stamens 2 or 4. Fruit fleshy without and woody within, beaked. 



1. BIGNONIA, Tourn. Bignonia. 



Calyx truncate, or slightly 5-toothed. Corolla somewhat bell-shaped, 5-lobed 

 and rather 2-lippcd. Stamens 4, often showing a rudiment of the fifth. Pod 

 long and narrow, 2-celled, flattened parallel with the valves and partition. Seeds 

 transversely winged. — Woody vines, with chiefly compound leaves, climbing by 

 tendrils. (Named for the Abbe Biynon.) 



1. 15. capreolsita, L. Smooth; leaves of 2 ovate or oblong leaflets 

 and a branched tendril, often with a pair of accessory leaves in the axil resem- 

 bling stipules; peduncles few and clustered, 1-flowered. — Rich soil, Virginia, 

 Kentucky, Illinois, and southward. April. — Stems climbing tall trees ; a trans- 

 verse section of the word showing a cross. Corolla orange, 2' long. Pod 6' 

 long. Seeds with the wing 1^' long. 



2. TECOMA, Juss. Trumpet-flower. 



Calyx bell-shaped, 5-toothcd. Corolla funnel-form, 5-lobed, a little irregular. 

 Stamens 4. Pod long and narrow, 2-celled, the partition contrary to the convex 

 valves. Seeds transversely winged. — Woody vines, with compound leaves. 

 (Abridged from the Mexican name.) 



1. T. radicans, Juss. (Trumpet Creeper.) Climbing by rootlets ; 

 leaves pinnate ; leaflets 5-11, ovate, pointed, toothed; flowers corymbed; sta- 

 mens not protruded beyond the tubular-funnel-form corolla. (Bignonia radi- 

 cans, L. )— Rich soil, Pennsylvania to Illinois and southward; but cultivated 

 farther north. July. — Corolla 2' - 3' long, orange and scarlet, showy. 



