DESMODIUM. XLVIL LEGUMINOS^E. 231 



27. DESMODIUM. DC. 



Gr. Seafios, a bond ; in reference to the slightly connected joints of the loment? 



Calyx 5-cleft, bilabiate, sometimes bibracteolate at base ; vexillum 

 roundish ; keel obtuse ; stamens diadelphous (9 <fe 1 ), sometimes 

 monadelphous ; legume (loment) compressed, composed of several 

 1 -seeded, separable joints. Genus taken from Hedysarum. % Her- 

 baceous or suffruticose. Lvs. pinnately trifoliate. 



* Stamens all connected. Calyx toothed or entire. 



1. D. NUDIFLORUM. DC. (Hedysarum. Linn.) 



Lfts. roundish-ovate, acuminate, slightly glaucous beneath; scape radical, 

 panicled, smooth ; joints of the lament obtusely triangular Common in woods, 

 U. S. and Can. It is remarkably distinguished by having its leaves and flow- 

 ers on separate stalks, often distant from each other. Stem 8 10' high, with 

 several ternate, long-stalked, smoothish, terminal leaves. Scape 2 3f long, 

 slender, smooth, leafless, panicled, with many small, purple flowers. Aug. 



2. D. ACUMINATUM. DC. (Hedysarum. Linn.) 



Plant erect, simple, pubescent, leafy at top ; Ifts. ovate, long-acuminate, 

 the odd one round-rhomboidal ; panicle terminal, on a very long peduncle. 

 Common in woods, U. S. and Can. Stem 8 12' high, ending in a slender 

 panicle 1 or 2f long. Leaves at the top of the stem and below the panicle. 

 Terminal leaflet roundish, 3' diam., lateral leaflets smaller, all of them covered 

 with scattered, appressed hairs and conspicuously pointed. Flowers small, 

 flesh-colored. Pod of about 3 triangular joints. July. Aug. 



3. D. PAUCIFLORUM. DC. (H. pauciflorum. Nutt.) 



St. assurgent, simple, or slightly branched, retrorsely hairy; Ifts. meni- 

 branaceous, pale beneath, scabrous-pubescent above, terminal one rhomboidal, 

 lateral ones inequilateral-ovate, all rather acute, or subacuminate ; roc. termi- 

 nal, few-flowered ; fls. in pairs; pet. all distinct! spreading. Woods, Penn. 

 to 111. and La. Root creeping, tubercular. Stems often clustered, If high. 

 Petioles 23' long. Leaflets 13' long, f f as wide. Flowers 2 6, white or 

 purplish. Legume of 2 3 obtusely triangular joints. Jl. Aug. 



* * Stamens diadelphous or the tenth stamen nearly free. 



4. D. CANADENSE. DC. (Hedysarum Canadense. Linn.) Bush Trefoil. 



Lfts. oblong-lanceolate, nearly smooth ; slip, filiform ; bracts, ovate, long- 

 acuminate ; fls. racemed ; joints of the loment obtusely triangular, hispid. Rath- 

 er common in woods, Can. to Penn. and la. A handsome plant about 3f in 

 height. Stem upright, striate. Leaflets 3' long, broadest at base, pointed, near- 

 ly smooth. Flowers purple, in axillary and terminal racemes with conspicuous 

 bracts. Pods about 5-jointed. Jl. 



5. D. CANESCENS. DC. (D. Aikinianum. Beck. H. canesc. L.) 



St. erect, branched, striate, scabrous ; Ifts. ovate, rather obtuse, scabrous 

 on the upper surface, soft-villous beneath ; slip, large, oblique, acuminate ; pan. 

 terminal, very long, densely canescent, naked ; joints of the lament triangular ; 

 upper lip of the calyx nearly entire. Woods, N. Eng. to Flor. An upright, 

 branching plant, with very long panicles of flowers greenish externally, purple 

 within. Stem 3f high, pubescent. Pods about 4-jointed. Aug. 



6. D. DILLENII. Darl. (D. Marilandicum. DC. H. Maril. Wittd.) 

 Dillenius' Dcsmodium. 



Plant erect, branching, hairy ; Ifts. oblong, villose beneath ; stip. subu- 

 late; roc. panicled; joints of the loment "3, rbomboidal, reticulate, a little hairy. 

 Moist soils, Northern and Western States. Stem sulcate, scabrous, 2 3f 

 high. Leaflets 2 3' by 1 2', smooth above. Panicle large, terminal, naked. 

 Flowers purple. Jl. 



7. D. CCJSPIDATUM. T. & G. (D. bracteosum. DC. H. bract. MX.) 

 Plant erect, smooth ; Ifts. oblong-oval or ovate, acuminate ; stip. lanceo- 

 late-subulate ; rac. paniculate, terminal, large, with scattered flowers ; bracts 

 ovate, acuminate, striate, smooth ; joints of the loment suboval. A larger spc- 



20* 





