OBDEB 46. LEGUMINOSJE. 31 7 



3 P. carneum MX. Glabrous, erect; Ifts. 5 to 7, lance-linear; spikes oblong, pe- 

 dunculate ; bracts obovate, somewhat exceeding the short teetli of the glabrous 

 calyx; pet. oblong, narrowed at base in the long claws. Ga. and Fla. Slender, 

 branching, 1 to 2f high; Ivs. fascicled in the axils. Lfts. acute, 5 to 8" long. 

 Spikes 1' long. Fls. roseate or white. Aug. 



4 P. gracile Nutt. Glabrous, decumbent at base; Ifts. 7, lance-linear; spikes 

 oblong or cylindrical, somewhat sessile ; bracts acute, about equaling the short, 

 blunt calyx teeth ; petals ovato ; vex. broadly cordate. T) \V. Fla. and Ala. 

 nearly simple, 1 to 2f long, leafy to near tho top. Lfts. 3 to G" long. Spikes G 

 to 12'' long. Fls. white. 



5 P. corynibosum MX. St. corymbously branched ; spikes capitate, sessile ; 

 bracts broad, colored, the outer leaf-bearing and flowerless; Ifts. linear, 5 to 7. 

 A singularly elegant plant of the pine barrens, N. Car. to Fla. Sts. 1 to 2f high, 

 many from ono root, each with a corymb at summit. Heads resemble the Com- 

 posite, with red scales and whito lance-oblong petals. Sept., Oct. 



38. ASTRAG'ALUS, L. MILK VETCH. Calyx 5-toothcd ; keel of 

 the corolla obtuse ; stamens diadclphous (9 and 1) ; legumes 2-celled by 

 the introflcxion of the lower suture. Herbaceous or suffruticous, with 

 unequally pinnate Ivs., and the fls. in spikes or racemes. 



LcRimies straight, cylimlric. Flowers oclirolencons No. 1 



LeiMiiifs cur veil, prismatic. Fls. whitish or bluish Nos. 2 1 



Legumes globular, fleshy. Fls. whitish or blue No. 5 



1 A. Canadensis L. Canescent, erect, diffuse; stip. broad-lanceolate, acumi- 

 nate; Ifis. about 10 pairs, elliptical, obtuse at both ends; the lowest ovate, ob- 

 tuse; ped. about as long as the Ivs., when ia fruit shorter; bracts subulate, as 

 long as the cal. ; fls. somewhat reflexed ; leg. ovate-oblong, terete, suberect, 

 smooth, many-seeded, abrupt at the end and tipped with the permanent style. 

 11 Paver banks, etc.. Can. and U. S. St. busby, about 3f high, very "leafy. 

 Fls. greenish-yellow, in dense spikes. Pods V in length, leathery. Jl. Aug. 



2 A. glaber MX. Nearly glabrous, erect; stip. minute or 0; Ifts. 8 to 11 pair?, 

 oblong- lanceolate or linear, obtuse or emarginata; spikes loose, much longer than 

 the Ivs. ; bracts subulate, scarcely longer than the pedicds ; leg. flattened, reticu- 

 lated. y Pine barrens, K Car. to Fla. St. 1 to 2f high. Fls. greenish white. 

 Pods distant, IV long, spreading, incurved, acute at each end. Apr. 



3 A. obcordatus Ell. Nearly glabrous, decumbent or assurgent ; stip. lance- 

 olate ; Ifts. 7 to 12 pairs, obcordate or obovate, ped. about as long as the Ivs., few- 

 flowered, fls. pedicellate; cal. teeth subulate, about as long as the tube; leg. curved, 

 pointed, stroiigly reticulated. River banks, N. Car. to Fla. Plant low and leafy, 

 ascending 4 to 8'. Fls. blue and white. Pod 1' in length. Lfts. 3 to 4" long. 



4 A. distortus Torr. & G r. St. and ped. as in No. 3 ; stip. ovate ; Ivs. long- 

 petioled, Ifts. ollong-obovate, mostly emarginate, 7 to 12 pairs; spikes shore; cal. 

 teeth triangular-acuminate, half as long as the tube ; leg. smooth, dedinate, curved. 

 Prairies, W. 111. (Mead) to Ark. Branches ascending 4 to G'. Lfts. 3 to 5" by 1 

 to 2''. Fls. blue, 6'' long. Pods I'long, beaked with the coiled style. Probably 

 a variety of the last. 



5 A .Mexicanus A. DC. Low, branches decumbent, glabrous; Ivs. pedunculate, 

 Ifts. 7 to 10 pairs, obovate, emarginate; ped. rather longer than the Ivs.; spikes 

 short, 10 to 15-flowered; leg. globular, obtuse, succulent, sweet-tasted. Prairies, 

 111., Mo. to Ark. Plant 3 to 5' high. Lfts. 2 to 3" by 1 to 2''. Fls. about 9" 

 long (yellowish white in h. s.), bluish ? Fr. as large as the plum, and " eaten 

 unripe by travelers, raw or cooked." 



39. PHA'CA, L. (Gr. ^di:rj t lentil, from <a'yo), to eat.) Calyx 

 5-toothed, keel obtuse ; stamens diadelphous (9 and 1) ; legume con- 

 tinuous, turgid, 1 -celled ; placentae tumid, several-seeded. H Lvs. un- 

 equally pinnate. Fls. in axillary, pedunculate raceme. (Differs from 

 Astragalus only in its fruit.) 



* riant densely villons. Flowers greenish yellow No. 1 



* riant Ju.-i.rly glabrous, liowew white or purple , Nos. 2 4 



