LEGUMINOS^-.. 271 



8. Desmodium spirale. Spiral-podded Desmodium. 

 Stem sufFruticose procumbent and rooting at the 

 base, afterwards ascending or scandent, branches sub- 

 terete subglabrous, leaflets ovate minutely hispidu- 

 lous, racemes subterminal elongated, pedicels 2 or 3 

 together, legumes 4-5-jointed. hispidulous with min- 

 ute hooked hairs spirally twisted. 



Hedysarum "spirale, Swarlz, Fl. 2nd. Occ. 1273. H. pro- 

 cumbens, Mill. diet. 



HAB. Common in thickets and dry shady situations. 



FL. Towards the end of the year. 



Stem 1-4 feet in length : brandies diffuse, long, filiform, 

 green, angulose, striated, subglabrous. Leaflets (the middle 

 one the largest) ovate, subacute, hispidulous with minute unci- 

 nate hairs, usually discoloured with a whitish spot in the 

 centre : petiole striated. Stipules scariose, broad at the base, 

 setaceo-mucronate at the apex : stipels minute, lanceolate. Ra- 

 ceme opposite to a subterminal leaf (hence apparently terminal), 

 filiform, very long. Peduncle hispidulous with minute unci- 

 nate hairs : pedicels 2-3 together, half an inch in length, fur- 

 nished at the insertion with about 3 subulate bracteas. Flowers 

 small, greenish-white, tinged with purple. Calyx ebracteo- 

 lated, minutely puberulous : upper lip minutely bidentate ; 

 lower lip 3-partite, with the divisions lanceolato-subulate. 

 Standard subrotund ; wings rather shorter than the keel, which 

 is concave and bifid at the apex. Stamens diadelphous. Le- 



gume spirally twisted, 4-5 jointed ; joints rhomboideo-obovate, 

 hispidulous, with minute uncinate hairs. 



9. Desmodium scorpiurus. Hare's-foot Honey- 

 suckle. 



Stem procumbent slightly hairy, stipules falcato- 

 ovate acuminate, leaflets elliptic or subovato-oblong 

 obtuse pubescent, racemes terminal elongated, pedi- 

 cels 3-4 together, legumes of 5-7 oblong joints. 



Hedysarum triphyllum, hirsutum minus repens, Browne, 301. 

 H. scorpiurus, Swartz, Fl. Ind. Occ. 1268. 



HAB. Common in dry pastures and by the road-sides. 



FL. October January. 



Stem suffrutescent, rooting near the base, 3-gonal, striated, 

 slightly hairy intermixed with a minute uncinate pubescence. 

 Leaflets petiolulated, elliptic, occasionally approaching to ob- 

 long, at other times subobovate, rounded at the apex, pubescent, 

 slightly hoary beneath. Stipules falcato-ovate, acuminate, 

 ciliated. Racemes terminal, elongated, 35 inches in length. 



