CHAPTER XL: THE POD-BEARERS 



Family LEGUMiNOSyE 



Trees of high ornamental and timber value. Leaves com- 

 pound (except in Cercis), alternate, deciduous. Flowers sweet, 

 pea-like, or regular. Fruit, a pod. 



KEY TO IMPORTANT GENERA AND SPECIES 



A. Foliage simple; flowers rosy, pea-like. 



I. Genus CERCIS, Linn. 



B. Leaves heart shaped. (C Canadensis) redbud 



BB. Leaves kidney shaped. (C. Texensis) Texas redbud 



AA. Foliage compound. 



B. Leaves twice compound; flowers regular. 

 C. Branches thorny; foliage fleecy. 



2. Genus GLEDITSIA, Linn. 



D. Pods 12 to 1 8 inches long, pulpy, many-seeded. 



(G. iriacanthos) honey locust 

 DD. Pods 4 to 5 inches long, without pulp, many- 

 seeded. (G. Texana) texan honey locust 

 DDD. Pods oval, i to 2-seeded, without pulp. 



(G. aquatica) water locust 

 CC. Branches thornless; foliage and pods coarse. 



3. Genus GYMNOCLADUS, K. Koch. 



(G. dioicus) KENTUCKY COFFEE TREE 



BB. Leaves once compound; flowers pea-like, showy, in 

 racemes, pods thin. 

 C. Leaves with spiny stipules. 



4. Genus ROB IN I A, Linn. 



D. Blossoms white; shoots smooth. 



{R. Pseudacacia) locust 

 DD. Blossoms pink; shoots hairy. 



E. Shoots clammy. {R. viscosa) clammy locust 

 EE. Shoots not clammy. 



(R. Neo-Mexicana) new Mexican locust 

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