

LEQUMINOSAE 63 



98. ROBIW'IA, L. 



[Dedicated to John and Vespasian Robin; French Botanists.] 

 Calyx short, 5-toothed, slightly bilabiate. Vexillum smooth. 

 Legume margined on the upper or seed-bearing suture. Trees, or 

 shrubs ; the leaflets petiolulate, and stipellate. 



1. R. Pseudacdcia, L. Leaflets oval or ovate-oblong ; stipules spi- 

 nose; racemes axillary, loose, pendulous; legumes smooth. 

 FALSE-ACACIA ROBINIA. Locust Tree. 



Stem 30 to 60 or 80 feet high. Leaflets 1 to near 2 inches long, 3 or 4 to 8 or 9 

 pairs, the common petiole pinnate nearly to the base (which is enlarged, and 

 covers the lud of the ensuing year, as in Platanus) ; stipules replaced hy stout 

 prickles. Flowers white, fragrant; racemes 3 to 6 inches long. Legumes 2 to 3 

 inches long; valves flat. 

 Hob. Meadows; fence-rows, <fcc.: frequent. Fl. May. Fr. Sept. 



Obs. This tree so common on our mountains, and so valuable 

 for its durable timber is naturalized in many places, and often 

 cultivated ; but it has never appeared to me as truly indigenous, in 

 this County. 



99. TEPHRO V SIA, Pers. 



[Gr. Tcphros, ash-colored or hoary; from the aspect of the plant.] 

 Calyx about equally 5-cleft. Vexillum silky-pubescent externally. 

 Stamens sub-monadelphous. Silky-hoary herbs ; leaflets petiolulate, 

 but not stipellate. 



1. T. Vii'iiJiiiiiiia, Pers. Leaflets linear-oblong, mucronate; 

 raceme terminal ; legumes slightly falcate, villous. 

 VIRGINIAN TEPHROSIA. Goat's Rue. Cat-gut. Hoary Pea. 



Perennial. Stem 9 to 12 or 15 inches high, rather erect or leaning, simple. 

 Leaflets about an inch long, 8 to 12 pairs, the terminal one more or less obovate or 

 cuneate ; common petioles 2 to 4 inches in length, pinnated to the base. Flowers 

 rather large, ochroleucous with strong tinges of purple, especially on the wings; 

 raceme compact, 1 to 2 inches in length, often 2 or 3 flowers, on long pedicels, in 

 the axils of the upper leaves. Legumes about 2 inches long. 

 Hob. Dry, hilly woodlands : frequent. FL June. Fr. Sept. 



Obs. The root of this plant consists of numerous very long coarse 

 fibres, whence the popular name of Cat-gut. The infusion of the 

 root is esteemed as a vermifuge, in New Jersey where the plant 

 abounds. 



SUB-TRIBE 2. TRIFOLIE V AE. 



Leaves mostly trifoliolate, stipulate, the earliest ones alternate; leaflets not stipel- 

 late, often dentate or serrulate. Chiefly herbaceous plants. 



1OO, TRIFOXIUM , Tournef. 



[Latin, Tres, three, and Folium, a leaf; characteristic of the genus.] 

 Calyx tubular, with 5 bristle-form teeth, persistent. Petals more or 

 less united, shrivelling. Legume membranous, small, 1- or 2- 

 (rarely 8- or 4-) seeded, scarcely dehiscent, usually included in the 

 calyx-tube. Stipules adnate to the petiole : flowers mostly capitate. 



f Florets sessile in compact heads; corolla, purple, or pale pink and spotted. 

 1. T. PRATNSE, L. Stems ascending; leaflets oval or obovate, often 

 retuse ; stipules broad, bristle-pointed ; heads roundish-ovoid. 



