PULSE FAMILY. 139 



54. CiESALPINIA. (For the early Italian botanist, Ca'salpimts.) 



C. piilcherrima, Swartz. Barhadoics Flowki: Fknci;. Small tree, 

 prickly ; leaves twicc-pinnatii ; leaflets numerous, obloug, notched at the 

 end ; racemes terminal, open ; flowers large and showy ; petals short- 

 clawed, broad, jagged-edged, 1' long, reddish orange ; fllaments crimson, 

 3' long. Trop. Africa. Cult, in some conservatories ; planted S. 



55. GYMNOCLADUS, KENTUCKY COFFEE TREE. (Greek: 

 naked branch, referring to the stout branches destitute of spray.) 



G. Canadensis, Lam. Bark rough ; leaves twice-pinnate, 2° or 3° 

 long, each partial leafstalk bearing 7-13 ovate stalked leaflets, except the 

 low'est pair, which are single leaflets (2'-3' long) ; the leaflets standing 

 edgewise ; flowers in early summer ; ripening in late autumn ; large thick- 

 walled pods, 5'-10' long and l^'-2' wide ; seeds bony, over ^' across. 

 W. N. Y. 8., and especially W. 



56. GLEDITSCHIA, HONEY LOCUST. (For the early German 

 botanist, Gleditsch.) Flowers early summer, inconspicuous ; pods rip- 

 ening late in autumn. Thorns simple or compound ; those on the 

 branchlets are above the axils. 



G. triac^nthos, Linn. A rather tall tree, with light foliage ; thorns large 

 (sometimes wanting), often very compound, flattish at the base and taper- 

 ing ; leaflets small, lance-oblong ; pods linear, flat, 9'-2()'long, often twisted 

 or curved. Rich soil from W. N. Y., S. and W. (Lessons, Figs. 95, 160.) 



G. aqudtica, Marsh. Watkr Locust. Small tree ; thorns slender ; 

 leaflets ovate or oblong ; pods oval 1-seeded, containing no pulp. Swamps 

 Mo. to S. Ind., S. C. and S. 



57. MIMOSA, SENSITIVE PLANT. (Greek: a mimic, i.e. the 

 movements imitating an animal faculty.) (Lessons, Fig. 4',)0.) 



M. pudica, Linn. Common S. Beset with spreading bristly hairs and 

 somewhat prickly; leaves very sensitive to the touch, of very numerous 

 linear leaflets on 2 pairs of branches of the connnon ]ietiole, crowded on 

 its apex, so as to appear digitate ; flowers in slender-podiuieled heads, in 

 summer. Cult, from South America. ® 



58. SCHRANKIA, SENSITIVE BRIER. (For a German botanist, 

 Schntnk.) Two species wild in dry sandy soil, S. and W., spreading 

 on the ground, appearing much alike, with leaves closing like the Sen- 

 sitive Plant, but only under ruder handling ; flowers in globular heads 

 on axillary peduncles, in summer. 2/ 



S. uncin^ta, Willd. Stems, petioles, peduncles, nnd oblong-linear 

 sliort-piiinted pods beset with rather stout, hooked prickles; leaflets ellip- 

 tical, reticulated with strong veins underneath. 



S. angust^ta. Torr. & Gray. Prickles scattered, weaker, and less 

 hooked : leaflets oblong-linear, not reticulated ; pods slender, tajier-pointed. 



59. DESMANTHUS. (Greek: /;oHd,/oicer,- the flowers are crowded 

 in a head. > 



D. brachylobus, Benth. Nearly smooth, 1*^-4° high, erect; jiartial 

 petioles 0-1. j pairs, each bearing 20-30 pairs of very small, narrow leaf- 

 lets ; one or more glands on the main petiole ; small heads of whitish 

 flowers, followed by short 2-0 seeded pods ; stamens 5. % Prairies 

 from Ind. S. and W. 



