222 XLVJI. LEGUMINOS^:. WISTARIA. 



one often subcordate, lateral ones unequally enlarged at base outside, under 

 surface scabrous. Racemes 1 3 together, 6 12' long, loose, often unfruitful. 

 Corolla purple and violet. Legume about 2' long, |' wide, with compressed, 

 renifcrm, dark purple seeds. July, Aug. 



4. P. LEIOSPERMUS. Torr. & Gray. 



St. slender, retrorsely hirsute ; Ifts. linear-oblong, not lobed, as long as the 

 petiole, hirsute and reticulated on both surfaces ; slip, subulate ; ped. much lon- 

 ger than the leaves'; Ms. few-flowered ; leg. very hirsute, about 5-seeded. T. 

 if- G. abr. Prairies, 111., Mead. Also Ark. and La. Stem 2 4f long, prostrate. 

 Leaflets 1 2' by 3 5". Pods about I' long, i as wide. Aug.* 



5. P. VULGARIS. Pole Bean. Kidney Bean. String Bean. St. twining; 

 If Is. ovate-acuminate ; roc. solitary, shorter than the leaves ; pedicels in pairs ; col. 

 as short as its 2 bracts at base ; leg. pendulous, long-mucronate ; seed reniform, 

 variously, often brightly colored. Native of E. Indies. Universally culti- 

 vated in gardens, not only for the mature fruit, but for the young pods, which 

 constitute that favorite dish called string beans. Stem 5 8f long, twining 

 against the sun. Flowers mostly white. July. 



6. P. MULTIFLORUS. Scarlet Pole Bean. St. twining; Ifts. ovate-acute; roc. 

 solitary, as long as the leaves ; pedicels opposite ; cal. longer than the 2 appressed 

 bracts at base; leg. pendulous; seeds reniform. Native of S.America. 

 Stem 6 lOf long, twining against the sun. Flowers scarlet, numerous and 

 very brilliant. Fruit not so generally admired as the last. July. 



7. P. LUNATUS. Lima Bean. St. twining; Ifts. ovate, deltoid, acute; roc. 

 shorter than the leaves ; ped. in pairs ; cal. longer than its 2 bracts at base ; leg. 

 scimetar-shaped, or somewhat lunate ; seeds large, much compressed, purplish- 

 white. Native of E. Indies. Stem 6 8f long. Flowers small, whitish. 

 Much valued and cultivated. July. 



8. P. NANUS. Dwarf Kidney Bean. Busk Bean. White Field Bean. St. 

 smooth, very branching, erect ; Ifts. broad-ovate, acute ; cal. shorter than its 2 

 bracts at base ; leg. pendulous, compressed, rugose. Native of India. Stem 

 If high. Flowers white. Seeds white, small, but there are many varieties. 

 Much cultivated. June. 



6. APIOS. 



Cr. name for the wild pear, which the root resembles in form. 



Calyx campanulate, obscurely bilabiate, the upper lip of 2 very 

 short, rounded teeth, the 2 lateral teeth nearly obsolete, the lower 

 one acute and elongated ; keel falcate, pushing back the broad, pli- 

 cate vexillum at top ; ovary sheathed at base. % Twining, smooth. 

 Root bearing edible tubers. Leaves pinnately 5 7 '-foliate. 



A. TUBEROSA. Ph. (Glycine Apios. Linn.} Ground Nut. 



St. twining; Ivs. pinnate, of 7 ovate-lanceolate leaflets; rac. shorter than 

 the leaves. Thickets and shady woods, Can. and U. S., twining about other 

 plants. Stem round, 2 4f in length. Leaves rather numerous, each consist- 

 ing of 3 (rarely 2) pairs of leaflets and an odd, terminal one. These are ovate, 

 narrow, more or less pointed, smooth, on short pedicels. Racemes axillary, 

 solitary, 1 3' long, crowded. Flowers dark purple. To the root are appended 

 oval, fleshy tubers, which are very nutritious, and would perhaps be cultivated 

 had we not the potato. JL, Aug. 



7. WISTARIA. Nutt. 



In memory of Caspar Wistar, M. D., President of Am. Phil. Soc. 



Calyx bilabiate, upper lip emarginate, the lower one 3 sub-equal 

 teeth ', vexillum with 2 callosities ascending the claw and separating 

 above ; wings and keel falcate, the former adhering at top ; legume 

 torulose : seeds many, reniform. Twining, shrubby plants, with pin- 

 natr. leaves. Rac. large, with large, colored bracts. Fh. lilac-colored. 



