174 ORDER DECANDEIA. 



bean and pea tribes are found here ; they consist of sever-al 

 different genera, as the vetch phmts (Vicia), in which are many 

 cnltivated species, and the indigenous one, Americana. The 

 Phaseolus, or kidney-bean, has its native as well as exotic 

 sj^ecies. The pea (Pisum) differs from the Lathyrus in having 

 the segments of the calyx equal and leaf-like ; the vexillum 

 (banner) has two protruding plaits. The native country of the 

 cultivated pea (Pisum sativum) is said to be the southern 

 part of Europe. The Sweet-Pea has a calyx with the two 

 upper segments shortest. The vetch can hardly be distin- 

 guished from the sweet-pea, and also approaches to the edible 

 l^ea. Its generic characters are, a calyx with three inferior 

 segments straight and longer than the two above. The vexil- 

 lum is emargiuate, the style bearded beneath the stigma. 

 Tlie genus Ei-vum (lentile) is hardly to be known from the 

 Vicia, except by its capitate, pubescent stigma. The genera 

 Trifolium, Lespedeza, Hedysarum, and Medicago, have also 

 many natural characters in common. In the Trifolium (clover) 

 the flowers are quite small, and crowded in roundish, oblong 

 heads ; the legume is so diminutive as to be concealed within 

 the calyx. The genus Lespedeza is distinguished by its len- 

 ticular, one-seeded, unarmed, indehiscent legume. There are 

 many species of this plant with purplish flowers, trifoliate 

 leaves, and minute, bristly stipules. The Hedysarum bears a 

 loment commonly hispid. The Phaseolus is a genus of this 

 leguminous tribe ; all its species are trifoliate plants, with 

 showy flowers, and weak, twining, or prostrate stems. Tlie 

 rattle-box {Crotolaria\ with its inflated pericarp, is a favorite 

 with children, who mid it on sandy plains ; it is a low ]3ubes- 

 cent plant with yellow blossoms. Of clover there are many 

 species, as the red, yellow, white, &c. The locust tribe con- 

 tains many ornamental shrubs and trees. Here are found the 

 indigo (Indigofera) of the "West Lidies and Egypt, logwood 

 from Campeachy, the red sandal-wood of the East Indies, the 

 liquorice^ and the sensitive plant . Gum-arahic is obtained from 

 the acacia of the Nile {Mimosa Niloticd) ; liquorice from the 

 roots of the Glycyrrhiza, a native of Italy and France. The 

 tamarind is a native of tropical regions ; the Arabians and 

 Africans allay their thirst by the cooling freshness of the 

 pulp contained in its legumes. Ebony and rosewood are from 

 the wood of plants of this tribe ; rice-jyajoer is derived from the 

 cellular substance of another leguminous plant ; the tonha- 

 bean is the fragrant seed of one genus ; and the East Indian 

 senna is the product of a species of Cassia. Thus in the 

 various genera of this tribe every part of the vegetable has its 



Bean and pea tribe — Indigo, liquorice, &c. 



