ORDER 46. LEGUMIXOS^E. 297 



diadelphous, monadelphous or distinct. Anthers versatile. Ova superior, single and 

 simple. Style and stigma simple. Fr. a legume, either continuous (1 -celled), or 

 (a loment), joined into 1-seeded cells. Sds. solitary or several, destitute of albumen, 

 Illust. in figs. 99, 158, 163, 161, 164, 165, 1T7, ISO, 131, 134, 306, 316, 317, 363, 445, 446, 466. 

 The genera and species of this vast order were estimated by Mr. Bentham in 1845 as 

 follows: 



Suborder 1. Papilionaceje, 350 genera, 4800 species. 

 " 2. Ca3salpineae, 83 " 700 " 

 " 4. Mimosea?, 29 1000 



" Total, 467 " 6500 



Geography. The Leguminosre are distributed throughout all lands, with the exception of a 

 few unimportant islands, from the equator to the frigid zones. Of its 6500 species now known 

 about 350 are natives of the United States and Territories. 



Properties ^o family of the vegetable kingdom possesses a higher claim to the attention of 

 the naturalist than the Legmninosje, whether we regard them as objects of ornament or utility. 

 Of the former, we might mention the splendid varieties of Cercis, with their purple flowers, the 

 Acacias, with their airy foliage and silken stamens, the Pride of India. Colutea and Cfesalpina, 

 with a host of others, which, like the Sweet Pea, are redolent with perfume. Of the latter, the 

 beans, peas, lentils, clover and lucerne, are too well known to require recommendation. Among 

 timber trees, the Kosewood (a Brazilian species of Mimosa), the Laburnum, whose wood is 

 durable and of an olive-green color, and the Locust of our own country are preeminent. 



The following are a few of the important officinal products of this order. In medicine; 

 Uqimrlce is the product of the root of Glycyrrhiza glabra of S. Europe. The purgative senna 

 consists of leaves of Cassia Senna, C. acutifolia, C. ^thiopica, and other species of Egypt and 

 Arabia. C. Marylandica is also a cathartic, but more mild than the former. The swe'et pulp 

 tamarind^ is the product of a large and beautiful tree (Tamarindus Indica) of the E. and W. 

 Indies. Itesins and Balsams: Gum Senegal is yielded by Acacia Verek of the Eiver Senegal ; 

 Guru Arabic, by several species of Acacia of Central Africa; Gum Tvagacyntli, by Astragalus 

 verus, &c., Persia. Balaam Copaivit is the product of several species of Copaifera. natives of 

 Brazil and W. Indies; Balsam Tolu of Myospermum toluifernum of Peru, and BuUam Peru 

 <f M. permferum of the same country. Dyes, &c. : Indigo, the most valuable of all (but a violent 

 poison), is the product of several southern species of Indigofera, as I. anil of the W. Indies, and 

 I. argentea of Egypt. BrazU-icood from Cfesalpina Braziliensis. Log-wood from Hsematoxylon 

 (Jampeachianum, of Campeachy, and Red Sandal-wood, from Pterocarpus snntalinus of Egypt, 

 Ac., &c. 



SUBORDERS, TRIBES AND GENERA. 

 Corolla valvate in estivation, regular. Flowers in dense heads or "spikes. 



Leaves twice pinnate SCBORDKR I. (a) 



Corolla imbricate in a?stivation, the upper or odd petal interior or the 



flower subregular SUBORDER II. (b) 



Corolla imbricate in aestivation, the upper petal (vexillum) exterior 



Flowers papilionaceous SUBORDER III. (*) 



* Stamens 10, all distinct. TRIBE 1. (c) 



* Stamens 10, all or 9 united (2) 



2 Leaves cirrhous, the rac.his ending with a tendril. TRIBE 2. (d) 

 2 Leaves not cirrhous. (3) 



3 Pod a loment (573), of transverse, 1-seeded joints. TRIBE 8. (e) 

 3 Pod a legume 1 2 OO-seeded, not in joints. (4) 

 4 Erect (or, if prostrate, with palmately 8-foliate leaves). Cotyledons thin, 



becoming leafy in germinatiou. TRIBE 4. (f) 

 4 Trailing or twining vines with pinnately compound leaves. 

 Cotyledons thick, not becoming leavea in germination. TRIBE 5. (g) 



SUBORDER I. MIMOSE^E. 



a Pods flat, composed of one or more 1-seeded joints MIMOSA. 1 



a Pods continuous, prickly, 4-sided and 4-valved SCHRANKIA. 2 



smooth, turgid, filled with pulp VACHELLIA. 3 



compressed, dry, Fls. all perfect DESMANTHUS. 4 



Fls. polygamous. . ., ACACIA, 5 



SUBORDER II. (LES ALPINES. 



b Fls. diceceous, greenish, stamens 10. A tree unarmed GYvyocLAntrs. 6 



b Fls. polygamous, green, stamens 5. Trees thorny GLEDITSCHIA. 7 



b Fls. perfect, yellow. Leaves equally pinnate CASSIA. S 



purple, papilionaceous. Leaves simple CEKSIS. 9 



SUBORDER III. PAPILIOXACE^. 



C 1 PODALYRIR.K. Legume flat and thin, short-stiped. Lvs. pinnate CLADASTRIS. 10 



Legume inflated, stipitate. Lvs. palmately 1 3-foliate BAI-TISIA. 11 



