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t 



MR. G. BENTHAM ON THE MIMOSE^E. 343 



'J 



may "be exemplified by distributing them into 7 tribes or collective genera, and 46 genera 



subgenera 



Mimosese proper. 2 species, 

 er to Mimoseae proper. 2 sub- 



ferons. Pod 



glands 



genera, 16 species. 



3. PiPTADENiE*. Definite stamens. No albumen. 7 genera or subgenera, 53 species. 



4. Adenantherje. Definite stamens. Albuminous seeds. Anthers usually glandu 

 usually succulent, spongy, or woody. 9 genera or subgenera, 39 species. 



5. EuMiMOSEiE. Definite stamens. Albuminous seeds. Anthers usua 

 dry, thin or coriaceous. 6 genera or subgenera, 312 species. 



6. Acacia. Indefinite stamens, all free, or the central ones united at the base. No albumen. 6 sub- 



■ 



genera^ 429 species, 

 r. Inge J!. Indefinite monadelphous stamens. No albumen. 15 genera or subgenera, 408 species. 



In the inrestigation of the history of the Mimosea) thus constituted, the first point 

 that strides us is that we have fewer indications- of great antiquity in their case than in 

 that of the Composite! or of the C lesalpiniea; (to which Cmmi hclongs). We have hut 

 few well-marked species, of donhtful affinity, isolated genetically, none of those remark- 

 able insular forms indicative of long geographical isolation. The gcnencor seotional 

 races common to regions now widely separated are neither numerous nor vaned ; and the 

 common or representative species in the New and the Old World are remarkably few 

 This may be in some measure owing to the tropical character of t]>e suborder " - ^' 



. \ . -, n 4. i.„f „T.{,r1nnl rpf riff eratiou and of restoration ot heat nave 



true that lonff periods of great, but gradual, reirigeiciu i«„^„i^^ef 



° 11 A 4-i.n+ in cnph fl decree as at one time to have almost 



followed each other on our globe, and that to sucn a QCj^ree aa at ^. , . . , 



.11^ 4r o^^+TioT. fn have melted down arctic glaciers, m each 

 extinguished tropical heat, or at another to 1^^^« ^f^^^^^._ ^^ .^ J^^ ., .. 



If it he 



creeping on slowly from 



to region, and forcing, as it were, the gradual 



case creeping uu .xuw.^ ...^ ^ ..^,,,,1. or cool climate, they would have no such 

 migration of races that can endure a ^^-P-^^^^^^^^^^^^ iuy on those accus- 

 effect on plants requiring more ^^^'^^^^^^^ ,, L change were at hand 

 toTnfid to extreme heat, it no place oi ici^g 



tomea to extreme uedi. x. -- r-*- . j . ^ ^ presence in lands now 



they would simply perish; and ^^"^^ I^^IZ,,^ i explained but by the 



separated by apparently ^-™.^^^^^^^ .^f t^^^^^ by the supposition of an ancient 

 consideration of causes actually m operation, oi ^^^^^^ ^^^^^ .[[ .. ^^^ . _ ^^^ . 



consmeration oi cau^.. — -y ; ^,,,^t from what it now is. Hi 



relative configuration of land and water very ^^^^.^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^ ^y^^ ^^^^^ 



this dispersion in the case of ^^^^^^ ^"^ i^^tances of species common to the 



may best be considered by taking severally the known 



New and the Old "World 

 "We have i 



Old world. ^ vithecolobium duke, Mimosa pudlca 



a the first place a few species, suc^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^.^^ . 



Jf. sepiaria, &c., the history of whose mtr ^^^ ^^^ ^^ abundant in many parts of the 

 modern and well authenticated, althoug y ^ ascribed as indigenous. These 



Old World 



n and well authenticaiea, ^ivu^^o -^ ^^^ described as indigenous. These 

 orld as to be frequently sent by coU ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ 



ly mentioned here to show the taciiixy 



species of the suborder. Tipntuma pi^^^^* ^^^ Calliandra portoricenms, 



Leuccena glauca, Desmanthus virgatm ./colonists from America into the Old World, 

 Ichf r.Pvh.T.« be added to the list of modern 2 ^ 



might perhaps be 



VOL. XXX. 



