ORDER 46. LEGUMINOS.-E. 317 



3 P. carneum MX. Glabrous, erect; Ifts. 5 to 7. lance-linear; spikes oblong, pe- 

 dunculate ; bracts obovate, somewhat exceeding the short teeth of the glabrous 

 calyx; pet. oblong, narrowed at base in the long claws. Gra. and Fla. Slender, 

 branching, 1 to 2f high; Ivs. fascicled in the axils. Lfts. acute, 5 to 8" long. 

 Spikes 1' long. Fls. roseate or white. Aug. 



4 P. gracile Nutt Glabrous, decumbent at base; Ifts. 7, lance-linear; spikes 

 oblong or cylindrical, somewhat sessile ; bracts acute, about equaling the short, 

 blunt calyx teeth ; petals ovate ; vex. broadly cordate. CD W. Fla. and Ala. 

 nearly simple,.! to 2f long, leafy to near the top. Lfts. 3 to 6'' long. Spikes 6 

 to 12'' long. Fls. white. 



5 P. corymbosum MX. St. corymbously branched ; spikes capitate, sessile ; 

 bracts broad, colored, the outer leaf-bearing and flowerless; Ifts. linear, 5 to 7. 

 A singularly elegant plant of the pine barrens, N. Car. to Fla. Sts. 1 to 2 f high, 

 many from one root, each with a corymb at summit. Heads resemble the Com- 

 posite, with red scales and whita lance-oblong petals. Sept., -Oct. 



38. ASTRAG'ALUS, L. MILK VETCH. Calyx 5-toothed; keel of 

 the corolla obtuse ; stamens diadelphous (9 and 1) ; legumes 2-celled by 

 the introflexion of the lower suture. Herbaceous or suffruticous, with 

 unequally pinnate Ivs., and the Us. in spikes or racemes. 



Legumes straight, cylindric. Flowers pchrolencons No. 1 



Legumes curved, prismatic. Fls. whitish or bluish Xos. 24 



Legumes globular, fleshy. Fls. whitish or blue No. 5 



1 A. Canadensis L. Canescent, erect, difluse ; stip. broad-lanceolate, acumi- 

 nate; Ifts. about 10 pairs, elliptical, obtuse at both ends; the lowest ovate, ob- 

 tuse ; ped. about as long as the Ivs.. when in fruit shorter ; bracts subulate, as 

 long as the cal. ; fis. somewhat reflexed; leg. ovate-oblong, terete, suberect, 

 smooth, many-seeded, abrupt at the end and tipped with the permanent style. 

 If River banks, etc.. Can. and U. S. St. bushy, about 3f high, very leafy. 

 Fls. greenish-yellow, in dense spikes. Pods $' in length, leathery. Jl. Aug. 



2 A. glaber MX. Nearly glabrous, erect; stip. minute or 0; Ifts. 8 to 11 pairs, 

 oblong-lanceolate Or linear, obtuse or emarginate ; spikes loose, much longer than 

 the Ivs. ; bracts subulate, scarcely longer than the pedicels ; leg. flattened, reticu- 

 lated. 4 Pine barrens, K Car. to Fla. St. 1 to 2f high. Fls. greenish white. 

 Pods distant, 1J' long, spreading, incurved, acute at each end. Apr. 



3 A.- obcordatus Ell. Nearly glabrous, decumbent or assurgent ; stip. lance- 

 olate ; Ifts. 7 to 12 pairs, obcordate or obovate, ped. about as long as the Ivs., few- 

 flowered, fls. pedicellate; cal. teeth subulate, about as long as the tube; leg. curved, 

 pointed, strongly reticulated. River banks, X. Car. to Fla. Plant low and leafy, 

 ascending 4 to 8'. Fls. blue and white. Pod 1' in length. Lfts. 3 to 4" long. 



4 A. distortns Torr. & Gr. St. and ped. as in No. 3 ; stip. ovate ; Ivs. long- 

 petioled, Ifts. oblong-obovate, mostly emarginate, 7 to 12 pairs; spikes short; cal. 

 teeth triangular-acuminate, half as long as the tube ; leg. smooth, decimate, curved. 

 Prairies. AY. 111. (Mead) to Ark. Branches ascending 4 to 6'. Lfts. 3 to 5" by 1 

 to 2''. Fls. blue, 6 ' long. Pods 1'long, beaked with the coiled style. Probably 

 a variety of the last. 



5 A .Mesicanus A. DC. Low, branches decumbent, glabrous ; Ivs. pedunculate, 

 Ifts. 7 to 10 pairs, obovate, emarginate; ped. rather longer than the Ivs.; spikes 

 short, 10 to 15-flowered; leg. globular, obtuse, succulent, sweet-tasted. Prairies, 

 111., Mo. to Ark. Plant 3 to 5' high. Lfts. 2 to 3" by 1 to 2 f/ . Fls. about 9" 

 long (yellowish white in h. s.), bluish ? Fr. as large as the plum, and i; eaten 

 unripe by travelers, raw or cooked." 



39. PHA'CA, L. (Gr. yany, lentil, from 0a'yo>, to eat.) Calyx 

 5-toothed, keel obtuse ; stamens diadelphous (9 and 1) ; legume con- 

 tinuous, turgid, 1-celled ; placenta) tumid, several-seeded. H Lvs. un- 

 equally pinnate. Fls. in axillary, pedunculate' raceme. (Differs from 

 Astragalus only in its fruit.) 



* Plant densely \illous. Flowers greemsh yellow Xo. 1 



* Plant nearly glabrous, Flovera white or "purple Nos. 2 i 



