80 XLTI. LEGUMINOSiE. 



stigma. Legume papery, inflated, many-seeded, indehiscent. 

 Seeds reniform. — Fl. Cap. ii. p. 212. 



S.frntescens, the only species, is a shrub, very variable in pubescence, 

 mostly hoary or canous. Leaves imparipinnate, nniltijugate. Flowers 

 handsome, scarlet or bright red, in axillary racemes. On dry hills througli- 

 out the colony. 



36. LESSERTIA, DC. 



Calyx bell-shaped, shortly and subequally 5-toothed. Stand- 

 ard obovate, emarginate, expanded, longer than the blunt keel. 

 Stamens diadelphous. Ovary substipitate, several-ovuled ; 

 style filiform, ascending, bearded in front below the terminal 

 stigma. Legume scarious, compressed or inflated, unequal- 

 sided or linear, at length opening at the apex, several-seeded. 

 —Fl. Cap. ii. p. 213. 



South African half-shrubs or herbs, mostly canescent. Leaves impari- 

 pinnate, multijugate ; leaflets often alternate, rarely glabrous. Flowers 

 pink crimson or purple, rarely white, in axillary racemes. — About 30 African 

 species, dispersed. 



37. SYLITRA, E. M. 



Calyx sub-2-labiate, 5-fid. Keel erect, round-pointed, shorter 

 than the subequal standard and attached wings. Stamens mo- 

 nadelphous. Ovary 4-ovuled; style glabrous, the stigma capitel- 

 late. Legume scarious, indehiscent, compressed, much broader 

 than the seeds.— 7^7. Cap. ii. p. 224 ; Thes. Cap. t. 78. 



S. Uflora is a rod-like perennial, with 1-foliolate leaves, and small axillary 

 flowers. Found near the Gramke river. 



Tribe 8. Astragale^. 

 38. ASTRAGALUS, Linn. 



Calyx tubular or bell-shaped, 5-toothed. Standard equalling 

 or exceeding the wdngs ; keel obtuse. Stamens diadelphous. 

 Ovary many-ovuled. Legume (variable in form) incompletely 

 or completely divided longitudinally into 2 cells by the intro- 

 fleetion of the carinal (dorsal) suture. — Fl. Cap. ii. p. 224 ; 

 Thes. Gap. t. 82. 



An immense genus, but chiefly of the northern hemisphere. A. Burhea- 

 nus, our only South African species, is a glabrous and glaucous annual, with 

 large, leafy stipules, pinnate leaves, and small, slender, racemose flowers. 

 Found at Magalisberg. 



Tribe 9. Hedtsarej^. (Gren. 39-48.) 



39. ZORNIA, Gmel. 



Calyx 2-labiate, the upper lip obtuse, emarginate, the lower 

 3-fid. " Corolla inserted in the base of the calyx ; standard 

 roundish, with reflexed sides ; wings oblong ; keel of lunate 



