. 



erties. No family of the vegetable kingdom possesses a higher claim to the attention of 

 uralist than the Leguminosae, whether we regard them as objects of ornament or utility 

 former, \ve might mention the splendid varieties of Cereis, with their purple flowers the 



OEDER 46. LEGUMINOSJJ:. 297 



diadelphous, monadelphous or distinct. Anthers versatile. Ova superior, single and 

 temple. Style and stigma simple. Fr. a legume, either continuous (1-celled), or 

 (i loment), joined into 1-sseded cells. Sds. solitary or several, destitute of albumen. 

 Illust in figs. 00, 15$, 163, 101, 104, 1G3, 177, ISO, 181, 134, 3'JG, 31G, 817, 803, 445, 446, 4CG. 

 The 'genera and species of this vast order were estimated by Mr. Benthatn in 1845 as 

 folio u's: 



Suborder 1. Papilionacere, 350 genera, 4800 species 

 2. Csesalpineae, 83 " 700 " 

 4. Mimoseae, 29 " 1000 " 



Total, 467 " 6500 



Geography. The Leguminosae are distributed throughout all lands, with the exception of a 

 few unimportant islands, from the equator to the frigid zones. Of its 6500 snecies nmv 

 about 350 are natives of the United States and Territories. 



Properties. 

 the naturalis 



Of the former, \ve might mention the splendid varieties of Cereis, with their purple flowers t 

 Acacias, with their airy foliage and silken stamens, the Pride of India. Colutea and Ca?salpina, 

 with a host of others, which, like the Sweet Pea, are redolent with perfume. Of the latter the 

 beans, peas, lentils, clover and lucerne, are too well known to require recommendation. Among 

 timber trees, the Eoscwood (a Brazilian species of Mimosa), the Laburnum, whose wood is 

 durable and of an olive-green color, and the Locust, of our own country are preeminent. 



The following are a few of the important officinal products of this order. In medicine; 

 liquorice is the product of the root of Glycyrrhiza glabra of S. Europe. The purgative senn.-l 

 consists of leaves of Cassia Senna, C. acutilblia, C. ^Ethiopica, and other species of Egypt and 

 Arabia. C. MarUandica is also a cathartic, but more mild than the former. The sweet pulp 

 tamarind-, is the product of a large and beautiful tree (Tamariiulus Indica) of the E. and W. 

 Indies. Resins and Balsams: Gum Senegal is yielded by Acacia Verek of the River Senegal ; 

 Gum Arabia, by several species of Acacia of Central Africa; Gum Tragacanth, by Astragalus 

 verus, &c., Persia. Balsam Copaiva is the product of several species of Copaifera, natives of 

 Brazil and W. Indies; Balaam Tolu of Myospermum toluifernum of Pern, and Balsam Peru 

 f M. perutferum of the same country. Dyes, <fec. : Indigo, the most valuable of all (but a violent 

 poison), is the product of several southern species of Indigofera, as I. anil of the W. Indies, and 

 I. argentea of Egypt. Brazil-wood from Caesalpina Braziliensis. Log-wood from Hocinatoxylon 

 Campeachianuni, of Campeachy, and Bed Sandal-wood from Pterocarpus santalinus of Egypt, 

 <fcc^ &e. 



SUBORDERS, TRIBES AND GENERA. 

 Corolla valvate in aestivation, regular. Flowers in dense heads or spikes. 



Leaves twice pinnate ...................................................... SUBORDER I. (a) 



Corolla imbricate in aestivation, the upper or odd petal interior or the 



flower subregular ........................................................ SUBORDER II. (b) 



Corolla imbricate in estivation, the upper petal (vexillum) exterior 



Flowers papilionaceous .................................................. SUBORDEE III. (*) 



* Stamens 10, all distinct TKIBB 1. (c) 



* Stamens 10, all or 9 united (2) 



2 Leaves cirrhous, the raehis ending with a tendril. TEIBE 2. (d) 

 2 Leaves not cirrhous. (3) 



3 Pod a loment (573), of transverse, 1 -seeded joints. TKIUE 3. (e) 

 3 Pod a legume 1 2 00-secded, not in joints. (4) 

 4 Erect (or, if prostrate, with palmately 3-foliate leaves). Cotyledons thin, 



becoming leafy in germination. TIUBE 4. (f) 

 4 Trailing or twining vines with pinnately compound loaves. 

 Cotyledons thick, not becoming leaves in germination. TKIUE 5. (g) 



SUBORDER I. MIMOSEAE. 



a Pods flat, composed of one or more 1-seeded joints ............................. MIMOSA. 1 



a Pods continuous. prickly, 4-sided and 4-valved ............................ SCIIRANKIA. 2 



smooth, turgid, filled with pulp ......................... VACHELLIA. 3 



compressed, dry, Fls. all perfect ............. DESM ANTHU?. 4 



ris. polygamous ................. ACAOIA, 5 



SUBORDER II. C^ESALPINE^E. 

 b Tls. diceceous, greenish, stamens 10. A tree unarmed ................ GYMSOCLADCS. 



b Fls. polygamous, green, stamens 5. Trees thorny ...................... GLEDITSCHIA. 7 



b Fls. perfect, yellow. Leaves equally pinnate ................................ CASSIA. 8 



purple, papilionaceous. Leaves simple .......................... CEECIS. J 



SUBORDER III. PAPILIONACE.E. 



O 1 PODALYBIE*:. Leenme flat and thin, short-stiped. Lvs. piminto .......... Ci AT.ASTRIS. 1(1 



-Legume inflated, stipitate. Lvs. pslmately 1 S-foli:ito ...... L'AV M&IA. II 



