590 CASSIACEAE 



with comparatively large blades, somewhat unequal, the standard larger than the rest and 

 bearing a gland at its base, all spreading. Stamens 10 : filaments distinct, villous below the 

 middle, those opposite the petals shorter : anthers opening lengthwise. Pods narrow, 

 leathery, tapering to both ends, tortulose. Seeds oblong, lengthwise, with a crustaceous 

 brown testa. Endosperm horny. 



1. Parkinsonia aculeata L. A shrub or small tree sometimes 9 m. tall, with zigzag 

 thorny branches. Leaves elongated, 2-4 dm. long, slender, the rachis winged ; leaflets 

 numerous, more or less distant, the blades linear to linear-oblanceolate, 1-10 mm. long, 

 inequilateral, on slender petiolules : racemes slender, 1-1.5 cm. long : calyx glabrous ; tube 

 very short ; lobes oblong, reflexed, surpassing the tube : petals yellow, 1-1.5 cm. long ; 

 blades suborbicular or oval, longer than the claws : stamens and ovary pubescent : pods 

 narrow, 5-10 cm. long, contracted between the seeds, acuminate at both ends : seeds oblong. 



In sandy soil, Florida to Texas, California and Mexico. Also in tropical America. Spring. 



7. CERCIDITJM Tulasne. 



Shrubs or trees, with spine-armed more or less tortuous branches. Leaves bipinnate, 

 relatively small. Leaflets few to each pinna, small. Flowers in short, often clustered, 

 racemes. Calyx-lobes 5, slightly unequal, valvate. Corolla yellow. Petals 5, with broad 

 imbricated blades. Stamens 10, slightly declined : filaments distinct, pubescent near the 

 base : anthers opening lengthwise. Pods flattened, narrow, 2-valved. Seeds several. 

 Ovary and pod pubescent : pods 5-6 mm. broad. 1. C. Texanum. 



Ovary and pod glabrous : pods 10-12 mm. broad. 2. C. florid urn. 



1. Cercidium Texanum A. Gray. A thorny shrub 6-15 dm. tall, with rigid zigzag, 

 often intricate, branches. Leaves early deciduous : leaflets 2-4, the blades leathery, oblong- 

 obovate, 4-6 mm. long, rounded or retuse at the apex, sessile : flowers solitary in the axils 

 or racemose at the ends of the branchlets : calyx-lobes ovate-lanceolate, or lanceolate, re- 

 flexed : corolla yellow, 1.5-2 cm. broad: petals spreading, slightly crisped, the standard 

 with a suborbicular blade, the others with obovate blades : pods flat, linear, 3-5 cm. long, 

 pubescent, slightly constricted between the seeds. 



On mesas, along and near the Rio Grande, Texas. Spring. 



2. Cercidium fldiidum Benth. A thorny tree 4-6 m. tall, with a crooked trunk 

 becoming 2.5 dm. thick and a wide top. Leaves deciduous : leaflets 4-6, the blades 

 obovate or oblong-obovate, 4-6 mm. long, obtuse or slightly emarginate, minutely puberu- 

 lent and sometimes slightly glandular, nearly sessile : flowers in lax racemes : calyx-lobes 

 oblong, reflexed, deciduous : corolla golden-yellow, nearly 2 cm. broad : petals spreading, 

 undulate, the standard with a reniform-obicular blade, the others with obovate-orbicular 

 blades : ovary glabrous : pods flat, narrow, 4-6 cm. long, glabrous. 



On dry gravelly mesas, southern Texas and Mexico. Spring. 



8. DELONIX Raf. 



Trees, with spreading branches, unarmed. Leaves bipinnate, with several or many 

 pinnae. Leaflets relatively small, numerous. Flowers in corymbose racemes. Calyx- 

 lobes 5, nearly equal, valvate, much longer than the tube. Corolla showy, red or orange. 

 Petals 5, with broad imbricated blades. Stamens 10, declined : filaments distinct : anthers 

 opening lengthwise. Pod somewhat flattened, elongated, often solid between the seed, 

 2-valved. Seeds several. 



1. Deloiiix regia (Boj.) Raf. A shrub or tree becoming 5 m. tall, with a wide- 

 spreading top. Leaves spreading, the larger with 20-50 pinnae : leaflets numerous, the 

 blades linear oblong, 4-10 mm. long, 2-4 mm. wide: pedicels stout: corolla red or 

 orange : petals 5-7 cm. long, the blades undulate and crisped. [Poinciana regia, Boj.] 



In sandy soil, southern peninsular Florida and the Keys. Also in the tropics generally. 



9. POINCIANA L. 



Shrubs or trees, smooth or prickle-armed. Leaves abruptly bipinnate, with several 

 or many pinnae. Leaflets few or many to each pinna, entire. Flowers in racemes or 

 panicles. Bracts wanting or caducous. Calyx -lobes 5, petaloid, imbricated, the lower 

 lobe largest, overlapping the rest. Corolla often highly colored. Petals 5, unequal. Sta- 

 mens 10 : filaments distinct : anthers opening lengthwise. Pods rather narrow, unarmed, 

 straight or nearly so, wingless. 



