Sophoreoi?^ leguminos.e. 95 



or more, very rarely 3 or 1, leaflets. Stamens all free. Pod continuous (not 

 articulate), indeliiscent or 2-valved. 



27. BOWBINGIA, Champ. 



Calyx membranaceous, loosely cup-shaped, truncate and minutely 5 -toothed. 

 Standard broad. Keel-petals rather larger than the Aving-s and scarcely co- 

 hering at the outer edge. Stamens 10, free. Ovary stalked, with several 

 ovules. Pod turgid, ovoid or nearly globular, pointed. Seeds strophiolate. 

 Radical straight. 



The genus consists but of a single specifiS*^— ^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^ 



1. B. callicarpa^ ^/^r/???;;. in Kew Jovrn. Bot. iv. 75 3A woodv climber, 

 glabrous in all its parts!^T5l?tes^impTeTo?T'?i!TO^m!rS^ a single leaHet, 

 ovate or oval-oblong, acuminate, 2 to 3 in. long, on a petiole of i to 1 in., 

 without stipellse. Stipides minute and deciduous. Racemes very short and 

 axillary, of 2 to 5 white flowers, on pedicels of about 3 lines. Calyx al)out 

 \\ lines long, usually turned back on the pedicel as the flowering advances. 

 Keel-petals nearly \ in. long, the others rather shorter. Pod about 1 in. long, 

 of a coriaceous consistence. Seed scarlet. 



Abundant in ravines of Victoria Peak, Champion and others. Not known as yet out of 

 the island. 



28. SOPHORA, Linn. 



Calyx carapanulate, shortly 5 -toothed. Standard rather broad. Keel-petals 

 equal to, or rather longer than the others, scarcely cohering on the outer edge. 

 Stamens free. Ovary shortly stalked, with several ovules. Style glabrous, 

 with a minute terminal stigma. Pod cylindrical or slightly compressed, fleshy 

 or hard and woody, contracted between the seeds, and usually indehiscent. 

 Radicle curved. — Trees, shrubs, or very rarely herbs. Leaves pinnate, the 

 leaflets usually opposite, with a terminal odd one. Racemes simple, terminal, 

 or several forming a terminal panicle. 



A genus not very numerous in species, but widely scattered over tropical and temperate 

 A&ia, and tropical and subtropical America. 



1. S. japonica, Linn. ; DC. Prod. ii. 95. A handsome tree, glabrous 

 in all its parts. Leaflets 11 to 15, ovate, oblong or almost lanceolate, 1 to 2 

 in. long, membranaceous, glaucous underneath. Flowers white and pale yel- 

 low, full \ in. long, in large terminal panicles. Calyx narrowed at the base, 

 the teeth obtuse. Pod succulent, contracted between the seeds so as to appear 

 to be composed of 4 to 6 oblong articles, each about \ in. long. 



Hongkong, Hance. Believed to be a native of Japan or China, or both, but so frequently 

 planted that we have no authentic records of its truly indigenous state. 



29. ORMOSIA, Jacks. 



Calyx campanulate, 5-cleft, or the two upper lobes often united into one. 

 Standard broad. Keel-petals not longer, free. Stamens free, often very un- 

 equal, and one sometimes without any anther. Ovary sessile or nearly so, 

 with 2 or few ovules. Style roUed inwards at the top, with a lateral stigma. 

 Pod flattened, 2- to 4-seeded, opening in 2 tliickly coriaceous or almost woody 



