DIADELPHIA. 181 



The varieties of the species are however very numtifous, and 

 differ widely from each other in respect to the height and 

 productiveness of the vines, and the size and goodness of the 

 fruit. 



GENUS Vicia. Vetch. Name, from the Latin, Vicia. The 

 germs contains about 40 species, but the only one of any con- 

 siderable importance is the Garden Bean, (Vicia faba,) a spe- 

 cies which forms the new genus Faba, as differing from the 

 Vicia in the size and shape of the legume. Of this there 

 are many varieties, among which the small seeded Mazagan 

 is the earliest, and the largest, the Windsor Bean. Field 

 Beans, which are varieties of the garden kinds, are consid- 

 ered in England excellent food for hard-working horses, and 

 for fattening swine for bacon. 



The student may, perhaps, be at a loss to know how it is 

 that the different kinds of Bean do not belong to the same 

 genus. If he will examine the different kinds, when in 

 flower, he will observe the distinctions. In the genus Pha- 

 seolus, the keel, stamens, and style, are spirally twisted to- 

 gether. In the genus Vicia, the style is transversely bearded 

 beneath the stigma, and the three inferior segments of the 

 calyx are long and straight. The legume of the Phaseolus 

 tribe is compressed, or flattened, and falcate, or sabre-form. 

 Seeds, compressed and reniform, or kidney-shaped. Many 

 of this genus are also annual evergreen plants in warm cli- 

 mates, that is, they continue to blossom and produce fruit du- 

 ring the whole year, and by green-house protection may be 

 made to do so in our climate. 



The Vicia tribe are mostly deciduous climbers, that is, 

 strictly annual plants. The Faba, or Garden Bean, called 

 also Windsor Bean, has, however, an erect stem, with many 

 flowers ; legumes pointing upwards, short and tumid, not com- 

 pressed like the legumes of the Kidney Beans. The Vetch 

 tribe are not favorites for the table. 



GENUS Robinia. Locust Tree. Name, in memory of 

 Jean Robin, herbist to Henry IV. of France. The Robinia 

 pseudoacacia, or Common Locust, is a well known, tall tree, 

 cultivated every where, and highly esteemed by ship build- 

 ers, on account of the stiffness and durability of its timber. 

 The Rose-acacia, (Robinia hispida,) grows about ten feet high, 

 and bears pink flowers ; leaves pinnate, with an odd one ; 



What is the difference between the generic characters of the garden and 

 kidney beans ? What are the plants mentioned as belonging to the genus 

 Robinia 1 i 



