102 DIADELPHIA. BECANDRIA. 



summit into numerous slender spreading- branches^ eacit 

 terminated by a raceme of white flowers. Leaves smalU 

 extremely deciduous in drying, smooth, and thickjy 

 sprinkled witn resinous diaphanous glands. Calix consi- 

 derably like ihal o^ Petalostemon corymbosnm, the segments- 

 linear and iK^uminate, nearly twice the length of the oiher 

 bracies. S;ami!ia 9. Carina twice the length of the petals. 

 Seed solitary, legume shorter than the calix; seeds yel- 

 low, reniform. — On being bruised the leaves- and bractes- 

 give out a very penetrating and disagreeable balsamic 

 odor much like that of the Diosmas and of Rue (Jiuta 

 graveolens. ) 



A north American genus, of which there aie 10 otbe£ 

 species chiefly indigenous to Mexico. 



502. PSORALEA. L. 



Calix 5-clcftor 5-tootlied, the lower segment 

 mostly elongated. Stamina diadelplious. Xe-. 

 gumc the length of the calix^ 1 -seeded, subros-, 

 trate and valveless. 



Shrubby or lierbaceous; leaves glandularly punctate^- 

 lernrtte, rarely digitate, simple or pinnate; stipules cauline;-' 

 flowers spiked or glomerate, axillary or terminal. 



Species. 1. P. canescens. 2. ciispidata. Ph. On the*^ 

 banks of tlie Missouri. Root large, tuberous, and ramified. 



3. * eacuknta. T. N. in Fras. (iatal 1813. Ph. 2. p. 475. 

 Nearly stemle.ss and liirsutely pilose; leaves digitate qui- 

 nate; leaflets ovate-elliptic, smooth above; spikes pedun- 

 culate, subcapitate; corolla scarcely longer than tlie caiix^ 

 bractes 3-flowered, ovate, acuminate, impunctate; root 

 simple, somewhat fusifoim, bulbous above the middle. 

 Has. On the elevated plains of the Missouri; also on the 

 high and bare hills of tlie lead-mines near the river Meri- 

 niek, a few miles from St. Louis. The root is similar in 

 form to that of P. ccmencens. Taste rather insipid, but not 

 disagreeable either raw or bailed, the latter is its common 

 mode of preparation among the savages; its texture is 

 laminated, always tenaceous, solid, and never farinaceous; 

 it is also somewhat medicinal and operates as a diuretic. 

 Nearly allied to P. an-pidutOy but very distinct in the root. 

 It is knov.n to the Canadian boatmen by the name of 

 *' Pomme de prairie." 



4. * incana. T. N. in Fras. Catal. 1813. Sericeously vlL 

 lous and canescent; leaves digitate, quinaie, uppermost 

 ternate, leaflets elliptic-lanceolate; .spikes few-flowered, 

 interrupted; bractes acuminate, S-flowered; root flagel; 

 latdy fusiform. Hab. On the open plains- of iheMi'ssovivi 



