FLORA OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 235 



occasionally a few flowers on short pedicels in the upper axils. Flow- 

 ers yellow, 6" long. Two of the anthers large, oblong, 4 or 5 others 

 like them, but smaller, the three uppermost small and sterile. Pod 

 linear, slightly curved, 3' -5' long, about 3" broad, at first flat with 

 the edges thickened, but becoming at length nearly as thick as broad . 



Becoming rather common la waste places. Widely dispersed, as a weed, over the 

 warmer regions of the globe, especially In America and Africa. 



One or more species of Jiauhinia (which belongs to tills suborder, and Is known by hav- 

 ing but a single leaflet, deeply lobed at the summit, or sometimes almost divided), are a 

 good deal cultivated for their very showy flowers . 



19. MIMOSA. Linn. 



Sepals 3, 4, 5, or 6, usually minute, free or shortly united. Petals 

 of the same number, more or less united, valvate. Stamens equalling 

 the petals in number, or usually twice as many, free, exserted. Ovary 

 sessile or rarely stipitate, 2 - many ovuled ; style filiform. Pod oblong 

 or linear, usually flattened, 2-valved, continuous or jointed. Seeds 

 ovate or orbicular, flat. Herbs or shrubs, rarely tall climbers or 

 trees, armed or unarmed. Leaves bipinnate, usually sensitive, or 

 rarely none and the petiole phyllodious. Heads on axillary peduncles. 

 Flowers small. 



A large genus, especially abundant in the warm parts of America, but also distributed 

 throughout the tropics. 



1. M. PUDICA Linn. Stem herbaceous or suffrutescent, spreading, 

 one to several feet long, hairy or glabratc, armed with infrastipular 

 and scattered prickles. Pinnae usually two pairs, about as long as the 

 petiole. Pinnules 15-25 pairs, oblong-linear, pointed, ciliate with ap- 

 pressed bristles, glabrescent, 3" -6" long. Flowers heads ovoid. 

 Calyx abortive. Pod oblong, sinuate, 2-5-seeded; valves jointed, 

 glabrous, unarmed ; border armed with spreading prickles. 



In waste places, open fields, &c. Doubtless introduced. Common in most parts of the 

 tropics as an introduced weed, though prof ..bly indigenous to Brazil. Known generally 

 as the Sensitive Plant, on account of the leaves shutting up quickly when irritated. 



2O. ACACIA Willd. [Koa.] 



Calyx teeth or lobes 3, 4, or 5, or entirely separate, or rarely al- 

 most obliterated. Petals of the same number, usually more or less 

 joined, rarely none. Stamens indefinite, usually more than 50 (some- 

 times as many as 400), exserted, free or shortly joined at the base. 

 Ovary sessile or stipitate, few -many ovuled; style filiform. Pod 

 ovate-oblong or linear, straight, curved, or variously twisted, flat or 

 nearly or quite terete, membranaceous, coriaceous, or ligneous, 2- 

 valved or indehiscent, continuous within, or divided in various man- 

 ners, rarely breaking up in joints. Seeds lying transversely or length- 



