LEG UMIN0SJE-PATILI0NACE2E. 



205 



are usually tipped by a gland or a point (mucro). The pod is 

 bivalve, usually many-seeded. 



The embryo of Brongniartia presents a peculiar character very rare 

 in Papilionacece ; its radicle is straight as in Casalpiniea. The seed 

 has a little aril. 1 The genus consists of erect shrubs, with the 



Astragalus monspeliensis. 



Fig. 162. 

 Flower (f ). 



Fig. 163. 

 Longitudinal section of flower. 



Fig. 164. 

 Androceum and gynseceum. 



flowers in terminal racemes, or in pairs in the axils of the leaves. 

 The anthers are muticous ; the ovary pluriovulate. The pod 

 always opens by two valves. The three genera Lamprolobium , 

 Harpalgce, and Brongniartia compose the subseries Brongniartiece. 



Astragalus (Fr., Astragale, figs. 161-1 G4) is the type of Astragalece. 

 which also includes Oxytropis, Biserrula, Gueldenstadtia, Glgcgrrhiza 

 (Liquorice, Fr., Reglisse — fig. 1G5) Calophaca, Ilalimodendron, and 

 Caragana. These are herbs or shrubs, rarely trees. The flowers are 

 solitary or in racemes or umbels, but always axillary. The flower 

 has an erect standard, often narrow, with its sides reflexed, diadel- 

 phous stamens with muticous anthers, and a pluriovulate ovary 

 with a glabrous style. The fruit is compressed cylindrical, or 

 oftener turgid or bladder-like, frequently divided into two false 

 cells by a longitudinal partition springing from one of the car- 

 pellary sutures. 



1 Forming a fleshy excrescence from the hilum. 



