PULSE FAMILY. 129 



20. SESBANIA. (Arabic: Sesban, a little altered.) Flowers late 

 summer. 



S. macrocdrpa, Muhl. Tall, smooth ; leaflets linear-oblong ; flowers 

 few, on a peduncle shorter than the leaves, corolla yellow with some red- 

 dish or purple ; pods linear, narrow, hanging, 8'-12' long ; seeds many. (D 

 Swamps S. 



S. vesicaria, Ell. Resembles the preceding in foliage and small, yellow 

 flowers, but has a broadly oblong turgid pod, only 1' or 2' long, pointed, 

 raised above the calyx on a slender stalk, 2-seeded, the seeds remaining 

 inclosed in the bladdery white lining of the pod when the outer valves 

 have fallen. Low grounds S. 



S. grand/flora, Poir. A shrub or tree-like plant of India, run wild 

 in Florida, occasionally cult, for ornament S. ; flowers 3'-4' long, white or 

 red ; pods slender, hanging, 1 or so long. 



21. INDIGOFERA, INDIGO PLANT. (Name means producer of 

 indigo.) 



I. tinctoria, Linn. This and the next furnish much of the indigo of 

 commerce, were cult, for that purpose S., and have run wild in waste 

 places ; woody at base, with 7-15 oval leaflets, racemes shorter than 

 the leaves, the deflexed knobby terete pods curved and several-seeded. 



/. Anil, Linn. Differs mainly in its flattish and even pods thickened at 

 both edges. 



22. ONOBRYCHIS, SAINFOIN. (Greek : asses 1 food.) 



0. satlya, Lam. COMMON S. Sparingly cult, from Europe as a fodder 

 plant ; herb l-2 high ; leaflets numerous, oblong, small ; stipules brown, 

 thin, pointed ; spikes of light pink flowers on long axillary peduncles, in 

 summer ; pod semicircular bordered with short prickles or teeth. 2/ 



23. ASTRAGALUS, MILK VETCH. (Greek: application uncer- 

 tain.) Very many native species west of the Mississippi. 2i 



* Pod turgid, completely or partially 2-celled by the intrusion of the dorsal 

 suture. 



<- Pod plum-shaped, becoming thick and fleshy, indehiscent. 



A. caryocarpus, Ker. GROUND PLUMS. Minutely appressed-pubes- 

 cent ; leaflets narrow, oblong ; short racemes or spikes of violet- purple 

 flowers in spring ; fruit of the size and shape of a small plum, but more 

 or less pointed, fleshy, becoming dry and corky, very thick-walled. Com- 

 mon along the Upper Mississippi and W. and S. on the plains. 



A. Mexicanus, DC. Smooth or with looser hairs ; leaflets roundish or 

 oblong ; corolla cream-color, bluish only at tip ; fruit globular, pointless. 

 Prairies, 111. to Kan. and S. 



*- -*- Pod dry, coriaceous, cartilaginous, or membranous, dehiscent. 

 +* Pod completely 2-celled. 



A. molllssimuB, Torr. Stout, decumbent, densely silky, villous 

 throughout and tomentose ; flowers violet ; pod sulcate at both sutures. 

 Neb. to Kan. and Tex. A "loco " weed. 



A. Canad^nsis, Linn. Tall, erect, l-4 high, slightly pubescent ; 

 flowers greenish cream-colored, in summer ; pods oblong, terete, scarcely 

 sulcate. River banks, common. 



A. glaber, Michx. Pine barrens, N. C. to Fla. ; tall, nearly smooth ; 

 leaflets 15-25, oblong-linear, pubescent beneath ; spikes loose, longer than 

 the leaves, with white flowers ; pod oblong and curved, flattened edgewise. 

 OKAY'S F. F. & G. HOT. 9 



