LEGUMINOS^E. 49 



often greenish, the 2 lateral ones (called wings) larger and 

 coloured like petals. Petals 3, connected with each other 

 and with the tube of filaments, the lower one keel-shaped, 

 and usually fringed or crested at the top. Style prolonged 

 and curved. 



1. P. verticilla'ta, L. Flowers small, greenish-white, in 

 slender spikes. Stems 4-8 inches high, much branched. 

 Stem-leaves linear, 4-5 in a whorl, the upper ones scattered. 

 Dry soil. 



2. P. Sen'ega, L. (SENECA SNAKEROOT.) Flowers green- 

 ish white, in a solitary cylindrical close spike. Stems 

 several, from a hard knotty rootstock, 6-12 inches high. 

 Leaves lanceolate, with rough margins, alternate. Dry 

 hill-sides and thickets. 



3. P. polyg'ama, Walt. Flowers rose-purple, showy, 

 fringed, in a many-flowered raceme. Stems 5-8 inches 

 high, tufted and very leafy, the leaves linear-oblong or 

 oblanceolate. Whitish fertile flowers on underground 

 runners. Dry soil. 



4. P. paueifo'lia, Willd. (FRINGED P.) Flowers rose- 

 purple, very showy, fringed, only 1-3 in number. Stems 1-4 

 inches high, from long underground runners, which also 

 bear concealed fertile flowers. Leaves ovate, crowded at the 

 top of stem. Dry woods. 



5. P. sangTlin'ea, L. Flowers usually bright red-purple, 

 but sometimes pale. Corolla inconspicuously crested. 

 Flowers in dense globular heads, at length oblong. True 

 petals mostly shorter than the wings, the latter broadly 

 ovate, closely sessile. Stem leafy to the top ; leaves oblong- 

 linear. Sandy and moist places. 



ORDER XXXI. LEGUMINO'S^E. (PULSE FAMILY.) 



Herbs, shrubs, or trees, mostly with compound alternate 

 stipulate leaves, and papilionaceous corollas. (For descrip- 

 tion of a typical flower, see Part I. , cap. v.) Stamens usually 

 10 (rarely 5), monadelphous, diadelphous, or distinct. Fruit 

 a legume, 



