PULSE FAMILY 137 



the two upper teeth, shorter and partially united. Standard 

 large, orbicular, retlexed, keel obtuse. Stamens diadelphous. 

 Style bearded on one side. Pod compressed, several-seeded.* 



1. R. Pseudo-Acacia L. Black Locust. A tree of medium size; 

 bark rough ami nearly black ; twigs and leaves smooth. Leaflets 

 9-15, ovate or oblong, obtuse and slightly mucronate at the apex; 

 stipules forming persistent spines. Kacemes loose, peudulous, 3-5 in. 

 long. Flowers white, fragrant. Pod smooth, 4-8-seeded. Introduced, 

 and quite common ; wood very durable when exposed to the weather, 

 and extensively used for posts.* 



XVIII. WISTERIA Nutt. (BRADLEYA) 



Tall, twining shrubs. Leaves odd-pinnate. Racemes ter- 

 minal. Flowers large and showy. Calyx 2-lipped, the upper 

 lip 2-cleft, short, the lower longer and 3-cleft. Standard 

 large, round, Avith 2 calloused ridges at the base ; wings eared 

 at the base ; keel scythe-shaped. Pod long, stalked, leathery, 

 2-valved, several-seeded.* 



1 W. frutescens Poir. Wisteria. Stem climbing 30-40 ft., often 

 2-3 in. in diameter at the base; branches and leaves downy when 

 young, becoming smoother with age. Leaves short-petioled ; stipules 

 niimite; leaflets 9-17, ovate-lanceolate, acute at the apex, rounded 

 at tlie base. Kacemes large, densely flowered. Calyx downy. Corolla 

 lilac-purple, wings with a short and a long appendage at the base. 

 Pod 2-3 in. long, 2-I:-seeded. River banks S. Often cultivated for 

 ornament.* 



2. W. chinensis DC. Chinese Wisteria. Larger and faster 

 growing than Xo. 1. Racemes longer and more slender. AVing 

 appendage at one side only of base. Seldom fruiting in this region. 

 Cultivated from China or Japan. 



XIX. ASTRAGALUS L. 



Mostly perennial herbs. Leaves odd-pinnate. Flowers in 

 spikes or racemes. Calyx 5-toothed. Petals long, erect, with 

 claws. Standard narrow. Stamens diadelphous (9 and 1). 

 Pod usually swollen, sometimes fleshy and eatable, several- 

 many-seeded. [A large and very difficult genus; mostly of far 

 western species.] 



