ORDER 46. LEGUMINOS^E. 297 



diadelphous, monadelphoua or distinct. Anthers versatile. Ova superior, single and 

 simple. Style and stigma simple. Pr. a legume, either continuous (1 -celled), or 

 (a loment), joined into 1-seeded cells. Sds. solitary or several, destitute of albumen. 

 Illust in flgs. 99, 153, 160, 161, 164, 165, 17T, 180, 181, 184, 306, 316, 317, 363, 445, 446, 466. 

 The genera and species of this vast order were estimated by Mr. Bentham in 1845 aa 

 follows: 



Suborder 1. Papilionacete, 3oO genera, 4800 species. 

 " 2. CiBsalpineie, 88 " 700 " 

 " 4. Mimosese, 29 " 1000 " 



" Total, 467 " 6500 



Geography. The Leguminosaa are distributed throughout all lands, with the exception of a 

 few unimportant islands, from the equator to the frigid zones. Of its 6500 species now known 

 about 35(1 are natives of the United States and Territories. 



Properties. No family of the vegetable kingdom possesses a higher claim to the attention of 

 the naturalist than the Leguminosse, whether we regard them as oojects of ornament or utility 

 Of the former, we might mention the splendid varieties of Cercis, with their purple flowers the ' 

 Acacias, with their airy foliage and silken stamens, the Pride of India. Colutea and Osalnina, 

 with a host of others, which, like the Sweet Pea, are redolent with perfume. Of the latter, the 

 beans, peas, lentils, clover and lucerne, are too well known to require recommendation. Among 

 timber trees, the Rosewood (a Brazilian species of Mimosa), the Laburnum, whose wood is 

 durable and of an olive-green color, and the Locust of our own country are preeminent. 



The following are a few of the important officinal products of this order. In medicine; 

 liquorice is the product of the root of Glycyrrhiza glabra of S. Europe. The purgative senna 

 consists of leaves of Cassia Senna, C. acutitblia, O. ^Ethiopica, and other species of Egypt and 

 Arabia. C. Marilandica is also a cathartic, but more mild than the former. The sweet pulp 

 tanariltd, is the product of a large and beautiful tree (Tamarindus Indica) of the E. and W. 

 Indies. Begins and Balsams: Gum Senegal is yielded by Acacia Verek of the Eiver Senegal ; 

 Gum Arabic, by several species of Acacia of Central Africa; Gum Tragacanth, by Astragalus 

 verus, &c., Persia. Balxmti Copairn- is the product of several species of Copaifera. natives of 

 Brazil and "W. Indies; Balsam Tolu of Myospermutn toluifernum of Peru, and Balsam Peru 

 of M. peruiferum of the same country. Dyes, fcc. : Indigo, the most valuable of all (but a violent 

 poison), is the product of several southern species of Indigofera, as I. anil of the W. Indies, and 

 I. argentea of Egypt. Brazil-icood from Caesalpina Braziliensis. Log-wood from Haematoxylon 

 Campeachianum, of Campeachy, and Red Sandal-wood from Pterocarpus snntalinus of Egypt, 

 &c., &c. 



SUBORDERS, TRIBES AND GENERA. 

 Corolla valvate in activation, regular. Flowers in dense heads or spikes. 



Leaves twice pinnate SUBORDER I. (a) 



Corolla imbricate in aestivation, the upper or odd petal interior or the 



flower subregular SUBORDER II. (b) 



Corolla imbricate in aestivation, the upper petal (vexillum) exterior 



Flowers papilionaceous SUBORDER III. (*) 



* Stamens 10, all distinct. TKIBE 1. (c) 



* Stamens 10, all or 9 united (2) 



2 Leaves cirrhous, the rachis ending with a tendril. TRIBE 2. (d) 

 2 Leaves not cirrhous. (3) 



3 Pod a loment (573), of transverse, 1-seeded joints. TRIBE 8. (e) 

 3 Pod a legume 1 2 00-seeded, not in joints. (4) 

 4 Erect (or, if prostrate, with palmately 3-foliate leaves). Cotyledons thin, 



becoming leafy in germination. TRIBE 4. (f ) 

 4 Trailing or twining vines with pinnately compound leaves. 

 Cotyledons thick, not becoming leaves in germination. TRIBE 5. (g) 



SUBORDER I. MIMOSESE. 



a Pods flat, composed of one or more 1-seeded joints MIMOSA. 1 



a Pods continuous, prickly, 4-sided and 4-val ved SCHRAHKIA. 2 



smooth, turgid, filled with pulp VACHELLIA. 8 



compressed, dry, Fls. all perfect DESM ANTHUS. 4 



Fls. polygamous. , ACACIA. 5 



SUBORDER II. C^ESALPINE^E. 



b Fls. dieeceous, greenish, stamens 10. A tree unarmed GYMNOCLAIHTS. 6 



b Fls. polygamous, green, stamens 5. Trees thorny GLEDITSCHIA. 7 



b Fls. perfect, yellow. Leaves equally pinnate CASSIA. 8 



purple, papilionaceous. Leaves simple CERCIS. 9 



SUBORDER III. PAPLLIONACE^E. 



1 PoDALYRiK/E. Legume flat and thin, short-stiped. Lvs. pinnate CLADASTRIS. 10 



Legume inflated, stlpitate. Lvs. palmately 1 3-foliate PAPTSIA. 11 



