100 FLORA OF TASMANIA. [Zepuminosa. 
or bilobed at the apex, rarely acute, membranous, glabrous above, covered beneath with minute appressed hairs, 
which are inserted by their middle to the surface of the leaf. Racemes shorter than the leaves, erect, nodding. 
Flowers numerous, bright pink, i inch long. Pods cylindrical, 1-2 inches long, strict, glabrous, acute, covered 
internally with a mottled lining membrane. Seeds opaque, black, pitted on the surface. 
Gen. XV. SWAINSONIA, Solid. 
Calyx urceolato-campanulatus, 5-dentatus. Vexillum amplum. Stamina 10, diadclpha. Stylus Ion- 
gitudinaliter barbatus. Legumen ovatum, inflatum, polyspermum. Semina cordato-reniforuiia, estrophiolata. 
— Suffruticuli v. herbs; foliis alternis, imparipinnatis ; stipulis deciduis j racemis axillaribus ; floribus 
purpureis v. coecineis. 
A small Australian genus, of which about ten species are known, all confined to the eastern half of that conti- 
nent and to Tasmania. — Herbs, sometimes with half-shrubby stems. Leaves alternate, imparipinnate, with deciduous 
stipules. Flowers, red or purple, in axillary racemes ; pedicels bract rate at the 1 >as< Calyx campanulate, five-toothed. 
Corolla papilionaceous. Standard ample. Stamens 10, diadclphous. Ovary many-ovuled ; the style bearded along 
the back. Pod oblong or ovoid, turgid, inflated. Seeds (in S. lessertiafolia) numerous, cordate-reniform ; funiculus 
slender, without a strophiolus. (Named after Mr. W. Swainson, an eminent zoologist.) 
1. Swainsonia lessertisefolia (DC. Ann. Sc. Nat. iv. 99); caule decumbente herbaceo ramoso, 
ramis ascendentibus gracilibus glabris puberulisve, stipulis ovato-oblongis obtusis, foliolis subremotis 6-10- 
jugis sessilibus lineari-oblongis ellipticis linearibusve obtusis . subtus petioloque appresse pubescentibus, 
pedunculo gracili elongato superne subsericeo, racemo 8-15-floro, bracteolis parvis, floribus breve pedicel- 
latis, calycibus appresse pilosis, floribus roseis, legumine oblongo-lanceolato utrinque acurninato.— DC. 
Prodr. ii. 271. {Gunn, 466.) 
Hab. Common near Woolnorth, and in the Islands of Bass' Straits, Gunn. (PL Nov.) 
Distrib. South-eastern Australia. 
A straggling, decumbent, herbaceous plant, sometimes woody at the eery base. Stem slender, terete, branching. 
Branches ascending, 8-12 inches long, glabrous or with appressed pubescence. Stipules oblong-lanceolate, blunt. 
Leaves 3-5 inches long ; petiole slender, covered with minute silvery appressed hairs, as are the leaflets beneath. 
Leaflets of six to ten pairs, sessile, |-1 inch long, varying in shape from broadly-oblong to linear- or lanceolate- 
oblong, blunt, sometimes retuse, membranous or herbaceous. Peduncles axillary, 6-10 inches long, above pubes- 
cent or silky. Raceme many-flowered. Flowers pedicelled, | inch long. Calyx covered with black appressed hairs. 
Pods large for the size of the plant, black, lanceolate-oblong, acuminate at both ends, inflated. Seeds numerous, 
black, cordate ; testa opaque, covered with large, shallow, scattered pits.— Mr. Gunn remarks that cattle will not 
eat this species. 
Gen. XYI. DESMODIUM, DC. 
Calyx bilabiatus, labio superiore bifido, inferiore tripartito. Vexillum rotundatum. Stamina 10, 
diadelplia (rarius monadelpha) . Ovarium sessile, multi-ovulatum. Leyzimen multi-articulatum ; articulis 
secedentibus, compressis, 1-spermis, indehiscentibus. Semina reniformia.— Herbse v. suffrutices; foliis 
phinatim tnfoUolatis v. vnifoliolatis ; racemis terminalUms ; floribus plerisqne purpureis. 
A very large genus of tropical shrubs and weeds, of which remarkably few (only six) species have hitherto been 
discovered in Australia; of these most are tropical, and several are also native, of tndia.— 1 ierbs or shrubs. Leaves 
alternate, stipulate, am r.uh ti , .b ,l.it. F/o,n,^ m x, nniii.il imc. uu- C, hj , u-u.ili\ with <l. < idmui* br.icl- two- 
lipped; upper lip biad, lower three-parted. Corolla papilionaceous. Si . mad, Inhous) 
