106 LEGUMINOS^E. (PULSE FAMILY.) 



Dinner wall of the legume separating from the 0'iter one at maturity in the form 

 of a membranous suck enclosing the seeds. 



1. S. vesicaria, Ell. Annual, 2 -10 high, glabrous; leaflets numerous, 

 1' long, linear-oblong, mucrouate ; racemes shorter than the leaves, simple or 

 compound ; flowers small, yellow ; legume oblong, 1^' long, 2-seeded. (Glot- 

 tidium, Desv.) Damp ground near the coast. August. 



* * Inner and outer walls united : suture thick or iviwjed. 



2. S. macrocarpa, Muhl. Annual, 3 -10 high, glabrous; leaflets very 

 numerous, i'-l' long, oblong-linear, obtuse; racemes short, 1 - 4-flowered ; 

 flowers yellow, dotted, the vexillum orbicular; legume 6' -10' long, linear, 

 compressed - 4-augled, many-seeded. Marshes along the coast. August - 

 Sept. 



3. S. punicea, Beuth. Frutescent, 2 -5 high ; leaflets 10-20, liuear- 

 oblong ; racemes few-flowered ; flowers large, scarlet ; legume oblong, 4-winged, 

 few-seeded. Low ground. Sparingly introduced. 



16. ASTRAGALUS, L. MILK-VETCH. 



Calyx 5-toothed ; the 2 upper teeth separated. Vexillum as loug as the 

 wings and obtuse keel. Stamens 10, diadelphous. Legume commonly turgid, 

 few- many-seeded, usually partly or completely 2-celled by the introversion 

 of one or both of the sutures. Herbs with unequally pinnate leaves, and ax- 

 illary spiked or racemose flowers. 



* Legume partly or completely 2-celled by the introversion of the dorsal suture. 



1. A. Canadensis, L. Tall, pubescent , leaflets 21 -31, oblong, obtuse; 

 stipules ovate, clasping ; peduncles as long as the leaves, closely many-flowered ; 

 calyx teeth subulate ; legume inflated, oval, terete. Mountains of Georgia 

 and North Carolina. June -August. If. Stem 2 - 3 high. Leaflets 1'- 

 !' long. Flowers f long, pale yellow. 



2. A. glaber, Michx. Stem tall, nearly smooth ; leaflets 15-25, oblong- 

 linear, pubescent beneath ; stipules minute, spreading ; spikes longer than the 

 leaves, loosely many-flowered ; calyx teeth broad and short ; legume curved, 

 oblong, flattened edgewise. Dry pine barrens in the middle districts. 

 April. I/. Stem 2 high. Leaflets 6" - 8" long. Flowers white. 



3. A. obcordatus, Ell. Smoothish ; stems prostrate ; leaflets small, 1 7 - 

 25, obcordate ; peduncles as loug as the leaves, loosely 8 - 1 5-flowered ; legumes 

 crescent-shaped, compressed, veiny. Dry sandy barrens in the lower dis- 

 tricts. April -June. ^ Sterns 6' -12' long. Leaflets 3" -4" long. 

 Flowers pale purple. 



4. A. caryocarpUS, Ker. Stems prostrate or ascending, appressed- 

 pubescent ; leaflets 16-24, oblong; stipules ovate ; peduncles as long as the 

 leaves ; racemes rather loosely flowered ; the flowers violet-purple ; legume 

 ovate, acute, smooth, thick and succulent, corky when dry. Near Nash- 

 ville, Tennessee (Dr. Gattinger), and westward. 



5. A. Plattensis, Nutt., var. Tennesseensis, Gray. Villous, ca- 

 nesceiit; stems prostrate or ascending; leaflets about 20, oblong or liuear- 



