182 LEGUMINOS.E. 



Properties. They have fragrant balsamic juices, 

 often turpentiny or resinous. 



Officinal Plants. 



Boswellia serrata. 

 Balsamodendron myrrha. 



20. LEGUMINOS^E. 



Calyx 5 -parted, its divisions often unequal and va- 

 riously combined. Petals usually five in number, irregu- 

 lar, exserted from the base of the calyx, which rests upon 

 a small disk ; the petals generally form a papillionaceous 

 flower, but are sometimes equal and spreading. Stamens 

 definite, perigynous, free, mono, di, or tri-adelphous ; 

 anthers versatile. Ovarium superior, simple, one-celled, 

 generally many-ovuled. Style and stigma simple. 

 Fruit leguminous or drupaceous. Seeds several or soli- 

 tary, attached to the upper suture, and occasionally pro- 

 vided with a small arillus, embryo exalbuminous with its 

 radicle either straight (Rectembriee), or with it curved 

 back upon the cotyledons (Curvembrise). Cotyledons 

 either remaining below or rising above ground at ger- 

 mination. 



Herbs, shrubs, or trees, with alternate mostly com- 

 pound leaves and having stipules ; petioles swelled at 

 their base. Inflorescence terminal, or axillary, the pedi- 

 cels having bracteolse at their base. 



Allied to the next tribe Rosacese. 



Geographical Relations. Distributed generally over 

 all parts of the world, but their maximum is in the 

 tropics. In the islands of St. Helena and of Tristan 

 d'Acuhna none are to be found. 



Properties. Only rivalled by the natural family of the 



