302 CALYCIFLOR^5. 



branches ; branchlets angulose, armed with short sharp prickles, 

 with clusters of leaves in their axils. Leaves small, very 

 shortly petiolate, 3-4-5 crowded together, obovato-oblong, 

 rounded and subemarginate with a minute deciduous awn at 

 the apex, shining and glabrous above, puberulous beneath, 

 deciduous in spring during dry weather. Flowers of a bright 

 orange colour. Peduncles 2-3 together in the same cluster 

 of leaflets, axillary, very short, each bearing 2 shortly pedi- 

 celled flowers, furnished with a pair of minute lanceolate 

 pubescent bracteoles a little below the calyx. Calyx sub-bi- 

 labiate, 5-fid, with the divisions tooth-like, acute, ciliated, sub- 

 equal with the exception of the lowest, which is somewhat 

 longer and of a lanceolate shape ; externally pubescent, persis- 

 tent. Standard clawed, obovato-rotund, subentire ; wings 

 lineari-oblong ; keel cleft below, and slightly so at the apex, 

 where also it is puberulous with minutely capitate hairs. 

 Stamens submonadelphous (the tenth stamen being accrete to 

 the rest for part of its length), with the sheath slit up above ; 

 filaments of equal length : anthers minute, ovate. Ovary 

 lineal*, compressed, sericeo-villous : style longer than the 

 stamens : stigma simple. Legume pedicelled, not an inch in 

 length, compresso-foliaceous, with the valves chartaceous, 

 hirsute with minutely capitate hairs, biarticulate ; lower joint 

 with the upper suture nearly straight, and the under con- 

 vex ; upper joint small, abortive. 



This is a very common tree in our savannahs and dry hills. 

 When in blossom, with its long branches densely crowded 

 with yellow flowers, it reminds the traveller of the broom of 

 Europe. The wood is very hard and ponderous, and suscepti- 

 ble of a fine polish. In by-gone days the branches were 

 favourite instruments of flagellation, and may be regarded as 

 in that respect supplying, though in an aggravated degree, the 

 place of the Birch of Europe. 



Sub-Order II Tribe VII. Swartziece. 

 Flowers not papilionaceous. Petals none, or 1-2. 



Of this Tribe there are none indigenous to this 

 Island. 



DIVISION II. RECTEMEMBRI^E, 



Tribe VIII. Mimosece. 

 Sepals and petals valvate. Stamens liypogynous. 



XXXIV. ENTADA. 

 Flowers polygamous. Petals 5, distinct. Stamens 



