400 LEGUMINOSjE. 



Dalbergia. 2. Casalpiniea?; flowers irregular but not papilionaceous, 

 petals spreading, imbricated in aestivation, upper one interior. Exam- 

 ples Haematoxylon, Caesalpinia, Cassia, Swartzia, Amherstia, Bauhinia, 

 Copaifera, and Ceratonia. 3. Mimoseae; flowers regular, petals val- 

 vate in aestivation. Examples Parkia, Mimosa, Acacia. 



The number of known genera at the present day, according to 

 Lindley, is 467, comprehending 6500 species. The following is the 

 estimate of species in the different suborders and tribes, considered in 

 reference to the flora of the globe and the flora of Britain (Bentham 

 and Henslow) : 



Suborders. Tribes. Species. British Species. 



f 1. Podalyriete, 350 



2. Loteoe with) 3000 48f 



Videos, .. 23J" 



1. Papilionacete \ 3. Hedysarea?, 500 4 



] 4. Phaseoleae, 650 



I 5. Dalbergiese, 250 



( 6. Sophorerc, 50 



2. Cffisalpiniete, 700 o 



3. Mimosea;,... ...1000 . . 



6500 75 



849. This is a very extensive and a very important natural order. 

 It embraces many valuable medicinal plants, such as those yielding 

 Senna, Gum-arabic, Tragacanth, Catechu, and Kino ; important dyes, 

 as Indigo and Logwood ; many valuable timber trees, as Locust-tree 

 and Eosewood ; plants furnishing nutritious food, such as the Bean 

 and Pea. The properties of the order may be considered in general 

 as wholesome, although it contains some poisonous plants. Lindley, 

 however, says that the order must be considered upon the whole as 

 poisonous, and that the plants used for food are exceptions. 



850. Suborder Papilionacece. The plants in this section have fre- 

 quently beautiful showy flowers; for example, Robinia, Laburnum, 

 Wisteria, Lupinus, Clianthus, Erythrina, or Coral-flower, Hovea. They 

 are often nutritious. The various kinds of Clover, Beans, Peas, 

 and Pulse belong to it. The common red Clover is Trifolium pratense. 

 White or Dutch Clover (T. repens) springs up frequently on ground 

 recently cleared. The Shamrock is generally considered as a species of 

 Trefoil. Various species of Medick and Lucerne (Medicago, fig. 471), of 

 Saintfoin (Onobrychis), and Melilot (Melilotus), are cultivated as food 

 for cattle. Many are used for their medicinal qualities. Glycyrrhiza 

 glabra, or Liquiritia officinalis, is the plant which yields liquorice-root. 

 This plant is a native of the southern part of Europe, and it has been 

 occasionally cultivated with success in Britain, especially at Pontefract 

 in Yorkshire, and at Mitcham in Surrey. An extract is prepared from 

 the root or underground stem by decoction in water, and subsequent 



