DICOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS 121 



partly filled with a sweet substance, slow in opening. Seeds 

 several, flattish, over ^ in. in diameter, very hard and shining. 



1. G. canadensis, Lam. KENTUCKY COFFEE TREE. Tree 50 ft. 

 or more in height, with rough gray bark. Leaves 2-3 ft. long, the 

 leaflets vertical. Pods sometimes nearly 1 ft. long. Rich soil and 

 river bottoms, especially S. and W. 



V. GLEDITSCHIA, L. 



Large trees ; bark dark-colored, nearly smooth. Leaves 

 usually pinnately twice compound ; leaflets serrate. Flowers 

 somewhat monoecious, in small spike-like racemes. Calyx 

 spreading, 3-5-cleft. Petals as many as the sepals and 

 inserted at the summit of the tube. Stamens 5-10, distinct, 

 inserted with the petals. Ovary nearly sessile, ovoid or 

 elongated. Fruit a 1 or many seeded, leathery pod.* 



1. G. Triacanthos, L. HONEY LOCUST. A large tree, usually armed 

 with stout, branched thorns, which are sometimes a foot or more in 

 length. Leaves petioled ; leaflets short-stalked, lanceolate-oblong, 

 base inequilateral, smooth above, often downy below. Racemes soli- 

 tary or in small clusters, drooping. Flowers inconspicuous, greenish. 

 Pod linear-oblong, often 12-15 in. long by 1 in. wide, twisted, many- 

 seeded, smooth and shiny, pulpy within. In. rich woods. [The 

 thorns are plainly modified branches bearing dormant buds, and 

 often partially developed leaves. The early spring leaves are usually 

 only once compound, while those of later growth are almost invaria- 

 bly twice compound. Often a single leaf will show both forms of 

 compounding.]* 



VI. CLADRASTIS, Raf. 



A moderate-sized tree with smooth dark gray bark and 

 yellow wood. Leaves of 7-11 smooth oval or ovate leaflets. 

 Flowers creamy-white, in long, drooping panicles. Calyx 

 5-toothed. Standard large, nearly round, reflexed ; petals of 

 the keel and wings separate and straight. Stamens 10, 

 unconnected with each other. Pod borne on a short stalk 

 above the calyx. Seeds 4-6. 



1. C. tinctoria, Raf. YELLOW WOOD. Tree 50 ft. or less in 

 height, much branched, with a round, spreading top. Hillsides, in 

 fertile soil, south central states. Also considerably planted as a 

 shade tree. 



