338 DIADELPHIA. 



JEngl. Bot. t. 274, &c., lately illustrated in a splendid 

 work by an able French botanist, Decandolle. 



**** Legume with scarcely more than one seed. 

 Of this Psoralea* Curt. Mag. t. 665 ; the curious 

 Stylosanthes of Swartz ; the Hallia of Thunberg ; and 

 our own Trifolium, Engl. Bot. t. 1770, 10481050, 

 are examples. The last genus, one of the most natural 

 as to habit and qualities, is extremely un tractable with 

 respect to botanical characters. Some species, t. 1047, 

 1 340, 1 769, have many seeds in each pod ; some have 

 not even the capitate inflorescence, made a part of the 

 generic definition. The difficulty is lessened by esta- 

 blishing Melilotus as a genus, with Jussieu : but the 

 whole requires to be well reconsidered ; for, if pos- 

 sible, so great a laxity of definition, with such glaring 

 exceptions, should not disgrace any system. 



***** Legume composed of single-halved joints, 

 which are rarely solitary. Hedysarum t t. 96, is the 

 most important genus of this section, and is known by 

 its obtuse or rectangular keel. Hippocrepis, t. 31 ; 

 Ornithopus, t. 369 ; and Scorpiurus, known in gardens 

 by the name of Caterpillar, frort) its worm-like pod, 

 are further examples. Smithia, Ait. Hort. Kew. t. 13, 

 is remarkable for having the joints of the legume con- 

 nected by means of the style, as by a thread ; the sta- 

 mens in two equal divisions, with tive anthers to each ; 

 and a two-lipped calyx. Hedysarum vespertilionis, 

 Jacq. Ic. Rar. t. 566, in some points approaches this 



