420 FLORA OF MADRAS. [Dichrostachys. 



acute leaflets and flat strap-shaped pods. Probably North 

 American in origin, it is frequently found in hedges and near 

 villages in India. 



82. Mimosa, Linn. 



Herbs, shrubs or small trees, usually prickly. Leaves bipinnate ; 

 leaflets small, more or less sensitive, caducous, the rhachis usually 

 prickly ; stipules small ; stipels small, often 2 to each pinna. 

 Flowers small, polygamous, in globose heads on axillary, solitary 

 or fascicled peduncles, the upper peduncles often forming a 

 terminal raceme ; bracts small, deciduous ; bracteole 1, minute. 

 Calyx very small, campanulate, shortly 4-toothed. Petals 4, 

 connate below, valvate. Stamens as many or twice as many as 

 the petals, exserted ; filaments filiform ; anthers small. Ovary 

 stipitate, many-ovuled ; style filiform ; stigma minute, terminal. 

 Pod flat, membranous, of several 1-seeded joints that separate 

 when ripe from each other and from the persistent sutures. 

 Seeds ovoid or orbicular, flattened, albuminous. 



Pinnae of the leaves 1-2 pairs digitately arranged ; stamens as many 

 as the petals; bracteoles stiff, bristly; pods under 1 in. long, "l-'2 in. 



broad, the sutures with many spreading bristles 1.' pudica. 



Pinnae of the leaves more than 2 pairs, pinnate ; stamens twice as 

 many as the petals; bracteoles spathulate ; pods more than 1 in. long, 

 "3 in. broad : 



Leaves under 1 in. long with 3-5 pinnae ; leaflets 7-8 pairs, shortly 

 oblong, semicordate, '05-*15 in. long, under '1 in. broad, pubescent ; 

 peduncles usually longer than the leaves ; pods grey-puberulous, 



the sutures spinose; seeds 5-6 2. hamata. 



Leaves much over 1 in. long, longer than the peduncles ; pods 

 glabrous : 



Leaflets semicordate at base ; sutures of pod with strong recurved 

 prickles : 



Pods usually acutely pointed at tip, 3-6-seeded, '6 in. broad ; 

 leaves 3-4 in. long, pinnae 3-5 pairs about '75 in. apart; leaflets 

 oblong to obovate, up to "25 in. long, the 4-5 pairs distant '2 or 



more in. apart , ovary glabrous 3. polyancistra. 



Pods obtuse at tip, 6-8-seeded, "4-*5 in. broad, sometimes 

 slightly pubescent ; leaves 2-3 in. long, pinnae 5-7 pairs about 

 5 in. apart ; leaflets oblong, the end ones subobovate, up to 

 '3 in. long, the 7-S pairs touching, 'l-'2 in. apart; ovary 

 minutely pubescent 4. Prainia na. 



