COLUTEA. 



Calyx 5-toothed. Vexillum spread open, with 2 callosities, 

 larger than the obtuse keel. Stamens diadelphous. Stigma 

 lateral, below the apex of a hooked style. Style bearded longi- 

 tudinally at the back. Legume stipitate, ovate, boat-shaped, 

 inflated, membranous. Unarmed shrubs. Stipules small, on 

 the stem. Leaves unequally pinnate. Racemes axillary, few- 

 flowered; rather shorter than the leaves. DC. 



509. C. arborescens Linn. sp. 1045. JBot.mag.t.81. DC. 

 prodr. ii. 270. Hedges and thickets in the middle and south 

 of Europe. (Bladder Senna.) 



A large loose-branched bush, with thin deciduous ash-gray bark. 

 Leaves smooth or nearly so ; leaflets in 3^1 pairs, short, oblong, retuse, 

 equal-sized, very slightly stalked ; stipules triangular, acuminate, mem- 

 branous. Racemes axillary, shorter than the leaves, 3-4-flowered 

 near the apex. Bracts minute, acute. Pedicels about the length of 

 the calyx. Calyx campanulate, tapering to the base, slightly pubescent ; 

 with shallow acute teeth. Flowers bright yellow, whole-coloured. 

 Pods distinctly stipitate, smooth, pale green or becoming purple at the 

 side most exposed to light ; cracking with a slight report when suddenly 

 and violently compressed. Leaves purgative ; used for adulterating 

 Senna. 



ASTRAGALUS. 



Calyx 5-toothed. Corolla with an obtuse keel. Stamens 

 diadelphous. Legume 2-celled or -i 2-celled, in consequence of 

 the dorsal suture being turned inwards. DC. 



510. A. verus Oliv. voyage, iii. t. 44. DC. prodr. ii. 296. 

 A. gummifer, $ hispidulus DC. astr. 85. Persia. 



Leaflets 16-18, linear, hispid; stipules at first downy, afterwards 

 smooth. Flowers in clusters of 2-5, axillary, sessile. Calyx tomentose, 

 obtusely 5-toothed ; otherwise according to De Candolle this differs 

 little from the next species. The principal part of the Tragacanth 

 used in Europe is said by Olivier to be furnished by this. 



511. A. gummifer Lab. journ. phys. 1790. p. 46. ic. DC. 

 astr. 85. prodr. ii. 296. On Lebanon. 



Stem shrubby, about 2 feet high, slender, nearly erect, smooth, 

 branched ; branches straggling, taper, hoary with wool. Petioles hard, 

 rigid, spiny, smooth, permanent ; stipules 2, adhering to the petiole, 

 smooth, sheathing, broad, ovate, somewhat acute; leaflets 8-12, op- 

 posite or alternate, sessile, smooth, oblong, acute. Flowers 3-5, sessile, 

 axillary, produced all round the branches. Bracts withinside the 

 stipules, solitary, keeled, membranous, smooth. Calyx very woolly, 

 cylindrical, 5-cleft; segments acute, woolly, equal. Corolla yellowish, 

 scarcely longer than the calyx; vexillum oblong, broad, emarginate, 

 247 R 4 



