PULSE FAMILY. 93 



form; wings of the calyx orbicular-obovate, concave, rather longer 



than the petals. 



Seneka Snake-root. Milk wort. Mountain Flax. 



Root perennial, thick and somewhat woody, with coarse branches. Stems usually several 

 from the same root, 9-15 inches high, herbaceous and rather flaccid. Leaves 1 or 2-4 

 inches long those near tire root small, ovate and scale-like.. Flowers greenish-white. 

 Capsule orbicular. Seeds large, pyriform, hairy, the arillus-like caruncles nearly as long 

 as the se"eds. 



Hilly woodlands : Canada to North Carolina. Fl. May. Fr. July. 



Obs. The root of this species is so valuable for its medicinal proper- 

 ties as a stimulating expectorant, in croup, &c., that although not 

 a plant of agricultural interest, every farmer ought to know its charac- 

 ter, and be able to recognise it when he sees it. 



ORDER XXV. LEGUMINO'S^E. (PULSE FAMILY.) 



Herbs, shrubs or trees with alternate stipulate and usually compound leaves, and papilio- 

 naceous or regular flowers. Stamens mostly 10 (rarely 5, sometimes many) monadel- 

 phous, diadelphous (9 and 1) , or rarely distinct. Pistil simple, becoming a legume in fruit. 

 Seeds without albumen, attached to the upper suture of the pod. 



This vast family comprising upwards of 400 genera is as important as it is compre- 

 hensive. Among the remarkable plants, or products, belonging to the Order, and not 

 here described, may be mentioned on account of their value, beauty or other character - 

 istics the Logwood (Haematoxylon Campechianum, L.) the Braziletto, or Brazil Wood 

 (Caesalpinia Brasiliensis, L.) the Rose Wood (a species of Mimosa) the Sissoo Wood of 

 India (Dalbergia Sissoo Roxb.) the Red Sandal Wood (Pterocarpus santalinus, L.) the 

 Liquorice plant (Glycyrrhiza glabra, L.) the Tamarind tree (Tamarindus Indica, L.) 

 the Tonka Bean (Dipterix odorata, Willfl.) the Senna of the Shops (Cassia Senna, L.) 

 the plants yielding Gum Arabic (species of Acacia) , and various other gums and balsams 

 the pretty Laburnum (Citysus Laburnum, L.) and the wonderful Sensitive plant 

 (Mimosa pudica, L.), &c., &c. The famous Chinese condiment called " Soy," is also ob- 

 tained from the seeds of a plant (Dolichos Soja, L., or Soja hispida, DC.) belonging to this 

 Order ; and the bean called " Dnal," in Bengal, is, I believe, the seed of the Cajauus 

 flavus,DC. 



The numerous genera comprised in this Order are disposed in several sub-orders, tribes 

 and sub-tribes. Those described in this work are arranged in the following synopsis : 



1. TRUE PULSE FAMILY. *PAPILIONACE^. 



Calyx of 5 sepals more or less united, often unequally so. Corolla irregular. Papiliona- 

 ceous, consisting of 5 unequal petals inserted in the base of the calyx, the upper called the 

 standard (vexillum) larger than the others and enclosing them in the bud. The two 

 lateral called wings are exterior to the two lower, which are more or less united at their 

 edges and form the keel, which usually encloses the stamens and pistil. Stamens 10 

 (rarely 5), diadelphous, sometimes monadelphous,or distinct. Ovary 1-celled. Cotyledons 

 large and thick, radicle, mostly incurved. Leaves simple or compound. 

 * Stamens monadelphous or diadelphous. Pod continuous and 1-celled, 

 or sometimes 2-celled lengthwise. Cotyledons becoming green leaves 

 in germination. Not climbing or twining (except Wistaria) , nor tendril 

 bearing. 



Stamens monadelphous ; anthers of 2 forms. Leaves -simple. 1. GE.MSTA. 



Stamens diadelphous (9 & 1). Leaves palmatcly 3-(or rarely pinnately 

 5-)foliolate. Pods small, resembling ak'enes. Herbs. 

 Flowers in heads. Pods thin, enclosed in the persistent calyx, 1 - 6- 



seeded. 2. TRIFOIJUM. 



Flowers in racemes, or spikes. 



Pods wrinkled, coriaceous. 3. MEULOTJS. 



Pods curved or spirally coiled. . 4. MEDICAGO. 



