DIADELPHIA. DECANDRIA. 101 



Levant. From A. gwnmlfer and A. creticus Is obtained 

 the gum Tragacanth, from the latter it is vhite, and 

 from the fornier yellowish; A. Tvngacantha affords no 

 gum whatever. 



ffft Legume viostly l-seedcd. (Stamina diadel- 

 phousr) 



501. DA LEA. L. 



Calhx semiquinquifid. Corolla partly papilio- 

 naceous. Wings and carina adnate to the undi- 

 vided column of the stamina. Legume 1-seeded^ 

 included in the calix. 



Herbaceous; leaves pinnate, interspersed with diapha- 

 nous g-lands in common with the calix; flowers in dense 

 and terminal spikes, rarely racemose, unibracteate. Dis- 

 tinguished from JRcta/osiemon by the subpapilionaceous 

 corolla, and the insertion of tlie adnate petals far below 

 the separating filaments, and not alternating with them in 

 tiie sanie line, the presence of 10 in place of 5 stamina is 

 aho of some importance in this family of plants. 



Species. 1. 1). alopecuroides. I). Clifforiiana. Wiild. 

 S^^. pi. 3. p. 1336. I), pedunailata? Ph. 2. p. 474. I). 

 JAjwici. Mich. flor. Am. 2. p. 57. t. 38. Petalostemon alope- 

 curoidcrnn. Ph. 2. p. 461. Hab. Common on the banks 

 of the Missisippi and the Missouri in alluvial soil. The 

 immber of leaflets, as might be expected in so compoimd 

 a leaf, are variable both in number and a little so in form. 

 ^'exillllm white, wings and carina pale violet. Michaux*s 

 r:gure is excellent. 2. anrea. T. N.in Fras. Catal. 1813. Ph. 

 2. p. 140. Perennial; stem erect; spikes dense and cylin- 

 drlc, flowers yellow; bractes rhomboidally ovate, as long 

 as the calix; calix densely lanuginous, dentures subulate; 

 leaflets (about 9,) obovute, under side pilose. Hab. On 

 gravelly hills, near White river, Missouri; rare. 



3. laxifij-ra. Ph. Very smooth; stem erect and tall, 

 branched above, branches slender and effuse; racemes 

 few-flowered; flowers distinct, enneandrous; bractes 

 smooth, obvalbate, acute; segments of the calix acumi- 

 nate, sericeous and plumose; leaves about 4 pair, linear- 

 oblong. Hab. On the high hills and naked grassy plains 

 of tlie Missouri, also on the banks of the Missisippi 

 near the Prairie du Chien. Obs. Perennial, root reddish 

 a.nd somewhat fusiform. Stem simple, round, andsmooth^ 

 of a brownish co1oup,-3 or 4 feet high, divaricating at the 



