114 LeguminostzPiptantkus. 



suture, exalbuminous. As thus characterised this includes 

 only one sub-order ; but altogether the order includes some 

 400 genera and 6,500 species. 



TRIBE l.PODALYRIE^. 



Shrubs, rarely herbs. Leaves simple or digitate. Stamens 

 10, free. 



1. PIPTANTHUS. 



Standard orbicular, slightly exceeding the wings, the sides 

 reflexed ; wings oblong-obvate ; keel petals as long or longer than 

 the wings, scarcely incurved, connate at the back. Pod stalked 

 and many-seeded ; seeds minutely strophiolate. One shrubby 

 species, a native of the Himalayas. From TT/TTTW, to fall, and 

 avdos, a flower, in allusion to all parts of the flower dropping 

 together. 



1. P. Nepalensis. Evergreen Laburnum. A handsome 

 evergreen shrub requiring a sheltered situation. Leaves alter- 

 nate, petiolate, digitately trifoliolate ; leaflets lanceolate, acute, 

 slightly hairy ; stipules united in one, opposite the leaves. 

 Flowers large, yellow, in terminal bracteate racemes. 



2. THERMCPSIS. 



Calyx shortly turbinate at the base* Petals nearly equal. 

 Pod sessile or shortly stalked, linear or oblong, inflated, valves 

 slightly coriaceous. Herbs with creeping rhizomes. Leaves 

 digitately trifoliolate ; stipules foliaceous, free. About twelve 

 species are described, all inhabiting the north temperate zone. 

 The name is compounded from the Greek ^A 605 "? a lupine, and 

 oS/rts-, appearance or resemblance. 



1 . T.h. fabacea. A pretty erect herbaceous summer-flowering 

 plant somewhat woody at the base, about 2 feet high. Leaflets 

 ovate-lanceolate, hairy beneath. Flowers yellow, about an 

 inch across, in terminal loose racemes. Siberia. 



3. BAPTISIA. 



Calyx obtuse or scarcely turbinate at the base. Petals 

 almost equal, the carinal connate at the back. Pod stalked, 

 ovoid or globose, inflated, often coriaceous. Leaves digitately 

 trifoliolate, or simple and sessile, or perfoliate. A North 

 American genus of about fourteen species of no particular 

 interest, and rarely seen in cultivation. Name from 

 to dye, some species being used for this purpose. 



