LEGUMINOSJE-MBI' >.<!!. /. . 



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large fleshy embryo. The superior radicle is surrounded by a sheath 

 longer than itself, formed by the approximated decurrent bases of 

 the auriculate cotyledons (fig. 19). Of the genus Adenanthera two 

 or three species are known, 1 unarmed trees from Asia, Australia, 

 Africa, and tropical America, with alternate bipinnate leaves possess- 

 ing two lateral stipules. The flowers 2 are in axillary racemes, or 

 are collected into compound racemes terminating the branches. 



The genera which have been placed near Adenanthera differ in but 

 few characters, which here assume an importance greater than is 

 assigned them elsewhere. But we must remember that it is a very 

 natural group that we have to deal with, and so closely are its 

 component genera allied that they were all formerly considered as 

 members of either Acacia or Mimosa. These differentiating characters 

 are drawn from the structure, form, and dehiscence of the fruit; 

 besides several of less value derived from the organization of the 

 flower. 



Thus Elephantorrhiza* has altogether the pedicellate flower' and 

 the inflorescence of Adeiiauthera ; but its fruit is broad and flattened, 

 with a coriaceous pericarp. At maturity the two sutures, one on 

 either edge, remain in situ, while the valves of the pericarp separate, 

 forming two flaps ; these again each split into two leaves, the endo- 

 carp coming away from the mesocarp. Two species of this genus 

 are known, 5 undershrubs from the Cape of Good Hope, with a thick 

 rhizome, a humble stem, and bipinnate eglandular leaves. The 

 flowers, which may be polygamous, are in racemes, either solitary 

 axillary, or ramified on certain axes which only bear bracts instead 

 of leaves. 



In Strypluiodendron, 6 too, the flowers are closely similar to those of 

 Adenanthera, and are borne on short pedicels as in Elephantorrhiza 

 Burchettii, or are sometimes subsessile. 7 But the receptacle is already 



1 Wight., III., i. t. 84(80).— Wight &Abn. 5 

 Prodr., ii. 271. — Tuw., Fnum. PI. Zryl., 98 — 

 Benth., Fl. Austral., ii. 298. — Harv. & 

 Sond., Fl. Cap. ii. 276, u. 2?.— II. Bn., in 

 Adansotna, vi. 207. — Walp., Hep., v. 580 \ 

 Ann., iv. G13.— Onv., Fl. Trap. Afr., ii. 329. 



2 They are usually echelonned in pairs on the 

 rachis of the inflorescence. 



3 Bekth., in IIooJc. Joum., iv. 344. — B. II., 

 Gen., 590, n. 379. 



4 In F. Purlcei Ben tit. the pedicel is nearly 

 as long as in Adenanthera, but it becomes even 

 shorter than the calyx in F. Bwchellii BENTH. 



(Acacia elephantorrhiza DC, Prodr., ii. 457 ; 

 A. elephantina Burch., Trav., ii. -M\ ; — /' •- 

 sopis elephantorrhiz i Spbeng : — P. elephantina 

 E. Met.). Tbe glands surmounting the anthers 

 are borne on slender stalks, and fall verj early 

 in this species. The stamens are inserted 



exactly as in , Idt I 



■■ I! \i:\. & Sond., Fl. Cap., ii. 277. 



e Mart., Kerb. Fl. Br, p., 1 17. Endl., 

 Gen., n. 6837 a. B. II.. G , 590, a. 377. 



'• There is usually one articulation at either 

 end of tin' pedicel. 



