LEADING FAMILIES OF FLOWERING PLANTS 355 



Other leguminous seeds much used as articles of food in 

 Europe, though not much eaten in the United States, are 

 broad beans, chick-peas, .and lentils. 



323. Other useful products of the Pea family. Medicinal 

 substances, dyestuffs", and varnishes are obtained from several 

 genera of leguminous plants. Among the most familiar of 



these are gum 

 arabic, licorice, 

 balsam of tolu, 

 senna, catechu, 

 tamarinds, logwood, and 

 copal varnish. 



Timber of considera- 

 ble value for some pur- 

 poses is obtained from 

 two North American 

 genera, the black locust 

 and the honey locust. 

 Rosewood, blackwood, 

 ironwood (Afzdia), cor- 

 alwood, and some other 

 kinds used in fine cab- 

 inet work, are from 

 tropical or sub-tropical 

 leguminous trees. 



324. Ornamental leguminous plants. The list of ornamental 

 plants of the Leguminosce is a very long one. Many genera, 

 such as the true acacia, are not hardy in the Northern states, 

 but a large number of our familiar cultivated herbs, shrubs, 

 and trees are leguminous plants. Among the herbaceous ones 

 are lupines, sweet clover, scarlet runner, the sweet pea and 

 a scentless species which much resembles it. Common shrubs 

 are several acacias, the " genista " l of the florists, " rose aca- 

 cia," and wisteria. Commonly planted trees are the black 

 locust, honey locust, yellowwood, and laburnum. 



1 Cytisus canariensis. 



FIG. 291. Desmodium flowers and fruit 

 An herb of the Pea family. Reduced 



