86 XLIT, LEGUMINOSyE. 



straifTjlit, tlie 2 uppermost somewhat connate. Standard re- 

 flexed ; keel very obtuse, longer than the wings. Stamens 

 diadelphous. Ovary sessile, several-ovuled ; style subulate, 

 glabrous ; stigma obtuse. Legume turgid, about 6-sceded, 

 constricted between tlie seeds, 2-valved. Seeds ovate, stro- 

 phiolate, with a linear hilum. — Fl. Cap. ii. p. 2^7. 



A twining, strong-smelling, viscidly hairy shrub. Leaves pinnately 3- 

 folioled, the terminal leaflet remote. Racemes Axillary ; flowei*s yellow, 

 the keel tipped with purple. — Common in the Western districts. 



58. RHYNCHOSIA, Lour. 



Calyx bell-shaped, mostly oblique, 4-5-fid, the 2 upper lobes 

 more or less united, the lowest longest. Petals nearly of equal 

 length or the wings shorter ; standard obovate or orbicular, 

 mostly with 2 minute, inflexed ears at base, naked or 2-callous 

 within ; wings narrow, eared at base ; keel broader, incurved, 

 obtuse or subrostrate. Stamens diadelphous ,- the vexillary 

 filament quite free, mostly knee-bent. Ovary subsessile, with 

 2 ovules ; style incurved beyond the middle, quite glabrous 

 and mostly thickened above, filiform and often hairy at base. 

 Legume compressed, oblique or falcate, rarely septate within. 

 Seeds 1-2, compressed with a lateral short or oblong scar, and 

 a subcentral seed-cord. — Fl. Cap. ii. p. 247. 



Climbing or prostrate, rarely erect, herbs or undershrubs, mostly sprinkled 

 with resinous dots, natives of warm countries. Leaves commonly pinnately 

 3-foliolate, rarely 1-foliolate or pinnate, or 2-3-pinnate, plurijugate. Pe- 

 duncles mostly racemose, rarely umbelled or 1-flowered. Flowei's yellow, 

 streaked with brown, rarely purple. — About 30 South African species (some 

 new undescribed), dispersed, but chiefly Eastern. 



59. ERIOSEMA, DC. 



Calyx bell-shaped, 5-fid, the upper lobes sometimes connate. 

 Petals subequal ; standard obovate or oblong, with inflexed 

 ears at base ; wings narrow^ longer or shorter than the mder, 

 incurved, obtuse keel. Stamens diadelphous. Ovary sessile, 

 very hairy, 2-ovuled ; style filiform, quite glabrous above the 

 middle, incurved and often thickened upwards ; stigma small 

 or capitate. Legume compressed, obliquely orbicular-rhom- 

 boid or broadly oblong, hairy. Seeds 2-1, compressed, oblong, 

 obliquely transverse, the seed-cord fixed at one end of a linear 

 scar.— -FZ. Gap. ii. p. 258. 



Erect or prostrate, rarely twining, herbs or undershrubs of warm countries. 

 Foliage and inflorescence of Rhynchosia^ to which this genus is closely 

 allied, and from which it is known by the obliquely transverse seeds and 

 the excentrical seed-cords ; a character easily seen in the unripe fruit.— At 

 least 9 Cape species, all Eastern or from Natal or Transvaal. 



