176 xlvii. § papilionace2E (bakeh). [Abrus. 



minal, J— 2£ in. long, on longer downy peduncles, the flowers in 2-5 

 often distinctly separated fascicles. Bracts linear-lanceolate, \ in., and 

 linear bracteoles persistent. Calyx J in., grey-canescent ; teeth short, 

 deltoid. Corolla purple, J in. Pod 21-24 lines long, nearly J in. 

 broad, finely pubescent, straight, 8-9-seeded. 



Lower Guinea. Pungo Andongo, Dr. Welwitsch ! 



A plant gathered by Dr. Welwitsch in Cazengo at 2000 ft. above sea-level is pro- 

 bably a new closely-allied species, but the specimens are not complete enough to de- 

 scribe fully. It is as downy as this, but the leaflets are rather fewer, the racemes all 

 axillary, and pods much shorter (15-18 lines). 



51. CENTROSEMA, DC. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, i. 627. 



Calyx shortly campanulate, the teeth subequal or the two upper ones 

 connate. Standard orbicular ; wings falcate-obovate ; keel broad, 

 incurved. Upper stamen free or more or less connate with the others j 

 anthers uniform. Ovary subsessile, multiovulate ; style incurved, more 

 or less dilated at the apex, slightly bearded round a terminal stigma. 

 Pod subsessile, linear, subcompressed, two-valved, subseptate between 

 the seeds internally, the sutures incrassated, the valves on both sides 

 traversed by a prominent nerve near the edge or winged near the lower 

 suture. — Climbing herbs or un4ershrubs. 



A small genus, confined to America, except for the occurrence of this species in our 

 bounds. 



1. C. virginiana, Benth. in Ann. Mus. Vind. ii. 120. Stems slender, 

 firm -herbaceous, wide-climbing, glabrous or slightly pubescent. Petioles 

 1 in. long ; leaflets three, ovate, 1 J-2 in. long, f-1 in. broad, promi- 

 nently veined, firm, glabrous or slightly hairy. Peduncles axillary, 

 1-4-flowered, exceeding the petioles. Pedicels \ in. long, with a pair 

 of ovate acuminate striated bracteoles at the apex, which nearly equal 

 the calyx, which is f-i in. deep, the upper teeth linear, reaching half- 

 way down, the lowest longer. Corolla an inch deep, violet-purple, the 

 standard an inch broad. Pod 3-4 in. long, l£-2 lines broad, glabrous, 

 nearly straight, 1 2-1 8- seeded.- 1 — C. dewmbens, Mart., Benth. 1. c. Clitoria 

 virginiana, Linn. Sp. PI. 753. DC. Prod. ii. 234. 



Upper Guinea. Cape Coast, Vogel I 



A common Tropical American species, extending north to Maryland. 



52. CLITORIA, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, i. 528. 



Calyx tubular with deep teeth and two large persistent bracteoles. 

 Corolla large, the ample standard much exceeding the wings and 

 incurved acute keel. Stamens diadelphous ; anthers uniform. Ovary 

 stipitate, linear, multiovulate ; style flattened, bearded along the inner 

 face. Pod stalked, linear, compressed, dehiscent, many-seeded, the 

 faces in our plant plain. — Twining or suberect herbs or shrubs with 

 pinnately tri- or multi-foliolate leaves. 



A small genus, widely spread through the tropics. 



