64 NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



separating from and narrower than dilated persistent margin, more 

 rarely broader not articulated. Seeds oblong, sub-4-gonal ; funicle 

 short. — Herbs or undershrubs, prickly ; leaves (of Mimosa) often 

 sensitive ; petiole glandless, often setigerous between pinnae ; stipules 

 setaceous ; flowers in spikes or heads ; inflorescence axillary solitary 

 or fascicled (Tropical America and Africa). — See p. 32. 



16. Leucaena Benth. — Flowers 5-merous (of Mimosa), herma- 

 phrodite or polygamous. Petals free valvate. Stamens 10, hypo- 

 gynous. Grermen stipitate co-ovulate ; stigma dilated concave. 

 Legume stipitate broadly-linear piano-compressed rigid membranous, 

 continuous within, 2-valved. Seeds transverse ovate compressed. — 

 Trees or shrubs, unarmed ; leaves small or large, pauci- or oo -jugate, 

 oblique ; petiole often glandular ; stipules minute or setaceous ; 

 flowers in globose heads, sometimes bracteate at base, or in a 

 terminal leafless raceme {All tropical regions, Pacific Ocean). — See 

 p. 33. 



17. Desmanthus W. — Flowers minute (of Mimosa) 5-merous, 

 hermaphrodite or polygamous, lower often male or neuter. Calyx 

 shortly toothed, valvate. Petals free or cohering to a variable 

 height, valvate. Stamens 5-10, free. Germen co-ovulate. Legume 

 linear, straight or more rarely falciform, piano-compressed acute 

 membranous-coriaceous, continuous or subseptate within, 2-valved. 

 Seeds oblique or descending ovate compressed. — Undershrubs or 

 perennial herbs ; branches slender angularly striated ; leaves 2-pin- 

 nate ; leaflets minute ; stipules setaceous persistent ; petiolar gland 

 usually 1 between lowest pair of pinna? ; flowers in minute few- 

 flowered ovate-globose pedunculate axillary solitary heads (All tropical 

 regions, North and South America). — See p. 34. 



III. PARKIER. 



18. Parkia E. Br. — Flowers 5-merous, either all hermaphrodite 

 or the lower male or neuter ; receptacle long tubular. Calyx gamo- 

 sepalous tubular, 5-lobed at apex ; lobes unequal imbricated 2-labiate ; 

 2 anterior lobes larger. Petals 5, equal linear-spathulate, free or 

 connate to a variable height, valvate. Stamens 10 ; filaments mona- 

 delphous at base, adnate to or free from corolla, finally becoming free 



