274 ORDER XLIII. LEGUMINOS^. 



Genus V.— PHASE^OLUS. L. 16—10. 

 (From phaseolus, a little boat, in allusion to the pods.) 



Calyic o-cleft, the 2 upper teeth often partially united, cam- 

 panulal3, Keei, stamens, and style spirally twisted together. 

 Legume falcate, slightly compressed, many-seeded. Seed reni- 

 /brm. Hiluin small, naked. An herbaceous, trailing plant. 



1. P. rnREN'Nis, (Walt.) Stem voluble, climbing over small shrubs, 

 pubescer t. Leaves ternate, the lateral leaflets inequilateral, the termi- 

 nal genei ally slightly cordate, pubescent beneath. Stipules lanceolate, 

 small, j^lowers'm axillary racemes, loosely-flowered. Ca/?/x somewhat 

 bilabiate, with 2 bracts at the base, teeth of the calyx broad and short. 

 Vcxillum reflected, keel compressed and spiral. Legume falcate, mu-. 

 cronate, riany-seeded, seeds attached alternately to each valve. — Purple. 

 %. July — Sept. In damp rich land. 



2. P. diversifo'lius, (Pars.) Stem prostrate, diffuse, retrorsely hir- 

 sute. Leaves ternate. Leaflets ovate, angular, or 2 — 3-lobed, slightly 

 hairy along the margin and veins. Floivers capitate, 8 — 14, and pedun- 

 cles '6 — 6 inches long, the lower tooth of the calyx narrow, longer than 

 the tube, the upper formed of 2 sepals cohering nearly to the summit, 

 having the appearance of a 4-cleft calyx. Vexillum reflected, keel acu- 

 minate, twisted. Legume terete, slender, slightly pubescent, many- 

 seeded, seeds pubescent, hilum linear. — Purple. @. Aug. — Oct. Sand- 

 hills and the coast. 2 — 8 feet long. Strophostyles angulosa, EIL 



3. P. helvo'lus, (L.) Stetti slender, prostrate, or climbing, retrorsely 

 hirsute. Leaves ternate ; leaflets oblong-ovate, or linear-oblong, taper- 

 ing toward the summit. Flowers in heads, few, calyx with the upper 

 segment broad, lower lanceolate, about the length of the tube; vexil- 

 lum nearly round, keel as long as the vexillum, with a tooth at the base 

 of the beak. Legume terete, pubescent, straight, linear, many seeded. 

 6W6?s reniform, pubescent. — Purple. If. July — Sept. In drv ('fnile 

 soils. 3 — 5 feet. Strophostyles peduncularis, EIL 



4. P. vulga'ris, (L.) Plant naturally twining, but becomes dwarfism 

 and bushy. Leaflets ovate, acuminate. Flowers in racemes; Seech 

 usually ovate, compressed. — East Indies. Common Bean. 



Genus VI.— VIG'XA. Sav. 16—10. 

 (Named after Vigna, a botanist of tlie mifldle ages.) 



Calyx somewhat bilabiate ; upper lip entire. Vexillum with 

 2 callosities, near the base of the limb, compressing the wings. 

 Xeel not spirally twisted. Stigma lateral. Legume terete. 



1. V. gla'bra, (D. C.) {DoHchos luteolus of Ell.) Stem twining, run- 

 ning over small shrubs. Leaves ternate, leaflets ovate, acuminate. 

 Flowers 3 — 5, and peduncles 2 — 4 inches long, lower tooth of the calyx 

 longer than the other; vexillum reflected; wings rhomboidal. Keel 

 longer than the vexillum. Legume a little hairy, slightly compressed. — 

 Yellow. %. Oct. — Nov. Around rice fields in the low country. 

 4—8 feet. 



