Mezoncurum.] xlvii. § c^esalpinieje (oliver). 201 



exalbuminous, with a thick testa. — Climbing- shrubs or trees, usually 

 prickly. Leaves ample, bipinnate. Flowers in terminal or axillary 

 solitary or panicled racemes. Bracts subulate, early caducous. 



Confined to warm regions of the Old World. The following species appear to be 

 endemic, though M. Benthamianum and M. angolense are perhaps too nearly allied to 

 M. enneaphyllum (W. et A.), and one or two other Indian species. 



Legume 24-34 in., wing thin. 



Pinnae 5-6 pairs, leaflets 10-12 to each \. M. Benthamianum. 



Pinnae 8-10 pairs, leaflets 12-18 to each 2. M. angolense. 



Legume 1-1 \ in., ventral suture thickened coriaceous. Pinnae 



15-20, multifoliolate 3. 31. Welwitschianum. 



1. M. Benthamianum, Baill. in Adans. vi. 196. A climbing- glabrous 

 shrub or extremities puberulous or hoary, more or less armed with short 

 recurved prickles which occur also on the rachis of the leaves and some- 

 times of the inflorescence. Leaves 1 ft. long or more ; pinnae in about 

 5 pairs, 3-5 in. long- ; leaflets about 10-12 to each pinna, alternate or 

 subopposite, obovate-elliptical, obtuse, entire or faintly retuse, scarcely 

 oblique at base, glabrous, venation not prominent ; f -1^ in. long, 6-9 

 lines broad, on petiolules of 1 line or less. Racemes stout, dense, 

 many-flowered, erect, simple or branched below, hoary or puberulous. 

 Pedicels spreading or at length reflexed, J in. long or less. Filaments 

 pilose below. Ovary shortly tomentose, narrowed into the nearly gla- 

 brous curved style ; stigma dilated, obliquely concave, papillose round 

 the margin ; ovules 4-5. Legumes oval-oblong, obtuse, very flat, 

 glabrate, obscurely reticulate-venose, 2J-3| in. long, 1-1J in. broad ; 

 wing* of upper suture \ in. broad. 



Upper Guinea. Senegambia, Heudelot! Sierra Leone (fruit only), Oldjieldl 



2. M. angolense, Welw. Agreeing with M. Benthamianum in gene- 

 ral characters. Pinnae in 8—10 pairs ; leaflets smaller, obovate-elliptical 

 rounded or retuse above, usually 12-18 to each pinna. Racemes less 

 hoary and perhaps not so dense as in M. Benthamianum. Legume the 

 same. 



Lower Guinea. Golungo Alto and Pungo Andongo, Angola, Dr. Welwitsch/ 

 This plant could not fairly be united with M. Benthamianum, to which it is very 



nearly related, without a further consolidation of Indian species, for which our material 



hardly suffices. 



3. M. Welwitschianum, Oliv. Climbing shrub, extremities rather 

 stout, gradually tapering, aculeate, tawny-pubescent. Leaves 9-18 in. 

 long, rachis pubescent or shortly tomentose ; pinnae in 15-20 pairs, 

 l-J-3 in. long ; leaflets opposite or nearly so, 15-22-jugate, oblong, 

 obtuse, subsessile, sparsely or shortly adpressed-pubescent at least 

 beneath, the under surface at length much paler ; usually J- J in. 

 long, 1 line broad. Racemes terminal or axillary, many-flowered, simple 

 or branched at the base, pubescent or at length glabrate, |-1£ ft. long. 

 Pedicels sparsely pubescent at first, J-1J in. Buds very oblique at 

 base. Anterior hooded calyx-lobe deep red within. Petals "yellow, 

 scarlet towards the claw, posterior with plicate margins on the inner 



