THE LEGUMINOUS PLANTS. 



57 



CHAPTER XIII. 



THE LEGUMINOUS PLANTS. 



NATURE OF LEGUMES. Plants such as wheat and barley 

 were formerly cut with a sickle ; the pods of such as peas and 

 beans were gathered by hand ; hence the latter were known as 

 legumes, from the Latin lego, "I gather." All plants resembling 

 peas and beans in their botanical nature were called the legum- 

 inous plants. They were also called pulse because, as some 

 say, of their being pulled or plucked. The most striking 

 resemblance is in the blossom. The seeds are formed in pods 



Fig. 23. I'.lossom of a legume as of 

 pea, bean, or flowering locust tree. . 



Fig. 24. Rlossom of legume taken 

 apart, showing five leaves of corolla. 

 Upper larue leaf is the " standard," 

 the two lower the "keel," the two 

 side the "wings." The pistils and 

 stamens are enclosed in the keel 

 leaves. 



Fig. 24. 



or legumes of different shapes in different plants. In some of 

 the members of the leguminous family, the blossoms and pods 

 are too small for us to observe readily their resemblance to 

 those of the pea and bean ; but a careful study of the roots, 

 leaves, and blossoms of the following plants will soon prove 

 that they are all quite alike. They are all legumes with which 

 we should be familiar. 

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