178 LEGUMINOSiE. Desmodium- 



6. Desmodium Dillenii, Darlingt. Dillenius's Desmodium. 



Stem erect, branching, pubescent ; leaflets oblong or ovate-oblong, somewhat villous and 

 glaucous underneath ; stipules subulate ; racemes slenJcr, forming a loose terminal panicle ; 

 bracts ovate-lanceolate ; upper lip of the calyx entire or slightly cmarginate ; lower tooth twice 

 as long as the lateral ones ; legumes of 3 - 4 rhomboid reticulated hispid joints. — Darlingt. 

 fl. Cest. p. 414 ; Torr. (^ Gr.fl. N. Am. \.p. 300. D. Marilandicum, DC. prodr. 1. p. 238, 

 excl. syn. Linn.; Beck, hot. p. 84. D. Boottii, Torr. in Curt. cat. Wilmingt. pi. Hedy- 

 sarum Marilandicum, Willd. sp. 3. p. 1 189 (not of Linn.) ; Pursh, fl. 2. p. 482 ; Ell. sk. 2. 

 p. 214. 



Stem about 3 feet high, sulcate, clothed wilii soft pubescence. Leaflets 1 J - 3 inches long, 

 thin, sometimes acute, but commonly more or less obtuse ; the hairs on the under surface 

 appressed, not rough to the touch. Common petiole often nearly or quite as long as the 

 leaflets. Stipules small and deciduous. Panicle large and slender. Flowers smaller than in 

 most of the preceding species. Lower tooth of the calyx twice as long as the lateral teeth. 

 Corolla purple, changing to bluish green. Stamens diadelphous nearly to the base. Legume 

 about an inch long, on a stipe a little longer than the calyx ; the joints distinctly rhomboid, 

 connected by a narrow isthmus, smaller than in the preceding species. 



Dry fertile open woods, and in thickets ; rather common. August. 



Resembles D. canescens, but distinguished by its smoother leaves (which do not adhere to 

 paper), narrow stipules, and less numerous rhombic joints of the legumes. 



6. Desmodium cuspidatum, Torr. Sf Crr. Large-biacted Desmodium. 



Stem erect, smooth ; leaflets ovate or lanceolate-ovate, acuminate, smooth ; stipules lanceo- 

 late, acuminate ; panicle elongated, sparingly branched ; bracts (conspicuous) ovate, cuspidate, 

 striate ; lower tooth of the calyx much longer than the triangular teeth ; stamens perfectly 

 diadelphous ; legumes of 4 - 6 triangular-oblong sparingly hispid joints. — Torr. <^ Gr.fl. N. 

 Am. I. p. 360. D. bracteosum, DC. prodr. 2. p. 329 ; Beck, hot. p. 85 ; Darlingt. fl. Cest. 

 ^.416. Hedysarum cuspidatum, Muhl. in Willd. sp. 3. p. 1188; Pursh, fl. 2. p. 482; 

 Bigel.fl. Bost. p. 276 ; Torr. compend. p. 269. H. bracteosum, Michx. fl. 2. p. 73 ; Pursh, 

 fl. 2. p. 483 ; Ell. sk. 2. p. 213. 



Stem 3-5 feet high, nearly simple. Leaflets 2-5 inches long, much paler underneath, 

 almost perfectly smooth on both surfaces : stipelles subulate, conspicuous ; stipules persistent, 

 half an inch or more in length, with a long subulate point. Flowers in a large open panicle, 

 the branches of which are only slightly rough. Flowers often sterile, violet-purple. Legume 

 often two inches in length, nearly sessile ; the joints a little rounded on the back. 



Banks of rivers, and rocky open woods. August. 



