POLYGALACEAE 53 



* * Flowers purple. 



6. P. paucif6Iia, WiUd. Rhizoma creeping; branches erect, 

 simple, leafy at summit; leaves elliptic-ovate, acute at each end, 

 pubescent-ciliate, petiolate ; terminal flowers 1 to 3, large, crest of 

 the keel fringed ; radical flowers wingless, fertile. 

 FEAV-LEAVED POLTGALA. Flowering Wintergreen. 



Branches 3 to 4 inches high, slender. Lower leaves small and scale-like, distant, 

 the upper ones crowded at summit, about an inch long; petioles about % of an 

 inch in length. Terminal flowers large and showy, pedunculate, in the bosom of 

 the leaves ; concealed flowers whitish, borne by the prostrate branching rhizoma. 

 Hob. Shaded swamps; woods, &c. E. Nottingham: rare. Fl. May. Fr. 



Obs. This pretty little species has been detected in the extreme 

 S. Western parts of the County, by Mr. NATHAN MILNER, for a 

 knowledge of which I am indebted to the active researches of my 

 indefatigable friend, JOSHUA HOOPES. 



ORDER XXXIV. LEaiJMINOSAE. 



Herb&, shrubs, or trees; leaves alternate, usually compound, stipulate ; flowers gen- 

 erally papilionaceous; stamens mostly 10, diadelphous (9 and 1), or rarely distinct; 

 pistil simple, becoming a legume in fruit; seeds attached to the upper suture, mostly 

 without albumen. 



This vast family comprising upwards of 400 Genera is as important as it 

 is comprehensive. Among the remarkable plants (or products) belonging to the 

 Order, and not here described, may be mentioned on account of their value, beauty, 

 or other characteristic the Loffwood (Haematoxylon Campechianum, L.) the In- 

 digo plant (Indigofera tinctoria, L.) -the Braziletto or Brazil-wood (Caesalpinia Bra- 

 siliensis, L.) the Rose wood (a species of J/t'mosa)~-the Sissoo wood of India 

 (Dalbergia Sissoo, Roxb.} the Red Sandal wood (Pterocarpus santalinus, Z.) 

 the Liquorice plant (Glycyrrhiza glabra, L.) -the Tamarind tree (Tamarindus 

 Indica, L.) the Tonka Bean (Dipterix odorata, Willd.}ihe Senna of the shops 

 (Cassia, Senna, .) the plants yielding Gum Arabic (species of Acacia) -the 

 pretty Laburnum (Cytisus Laburnum, X.)-^the wonderful Sensitive plant (Mi- 

 mosa pudica, L.~) &c., &c. The famous Chinese condiment, called Soy, is also 

 obtained from the seeds of a plant (Soja hispida, DC.) belonging to this order; and 

 the bean named " Dhal," in India, is the seed of the Cajanus flavus, DC. 



SUBORDER I. PAPILIONA^CEAE. 



Leaves mostly pinnate, or pinnately trifoliolate ; flowers usually perfect ; coroUa 

 butterfly-shaped; radicle mostly incurved. 



TRIBE 1. VICIE\AJE. 



Herbs ; Uaves mostly even-pinnate (odd in Cicer), the common petiole not articu- 

 lated with the stem, generally produced at apex into a bristle, or tendril ; legume 

 continuous, 1-celled ; cotyledons very thick and fleshy, or farinaceous, remaining 

 under ground in germination. 



86. CrCER, Tournef. 



[The ancient Latin name for a species of Vetch; applied to this genus.] 

 Calyx somewhat gibbous at base, 5-parted, the 4 upper segments 

 incumbent on the vexillum. Legume turgid, 2-seeded; seeds gib- 

 bous. 



1. C. ARIETI X NUM, L. Leaves odd-pinnate ; leaflets cuneate-obovate, 

 serrate; stipules lanceolate, sub- denticulate; calyx-segments as 

 long as the wings of the corolla. 



