394 CAESALPINIACEAE 



CAESALPINIACEAE 



Leaves unifoliolate; shrub with flowers appearing before the leaves. I. Cercis. 

 Leaves pinnate; trees or herbs with flowers appearing after the 

 leaves. 

 Herbs; flowers perfect; corolla nearly regular. 



Pods elastically dehiscent; leaves sensitive to shock. 2. Chamaecrista. 



Pods not elastically dahiscent; leaves not sensitive. 3. Cassia. 



Trees; flowers polygamous. 4. Gleditsia. 



i. Cercis L. 



1. C. canadensis L. In rich soil: S. Ont. to Minn., Neb., N. J., 



Fla. and Tex. 



Conn. Doubtfully as a wild plant in the state; commonly culti- 

 vated and sometimes escaping. 

 N. Y. Unknown as a wild plant in our area; frequently escaping. 

 N. J. Rare as an escaped plant in the north, wild only in the 



drainage of the Delaware from Hunterdon Co. southward. 

 Pa. Delaware and Chester counties. 



Tertiary, o: Cretaceous, not very common near old glacial ter- 

 races:* Older Formations, confined to the Pa. localities as a wild 

 plant. Not north of the moraine. 168-204 days. About sea level. 



2. Chamaecrista Moench 



Flowers 4-8 mm. broad, short pedicelled; anthers 5. 1. C. nictitans. 



Flowers 2.5-4 cnl - broad; anthers 10. 2. C. fascicidata. 



i. C. nictitans Moench. (Cassia nictitans L.). In dry soil: Me. 

 to Ga., Ind., Kan. and Tex. 



Common nearly throughout our area except in the pine-barrens 

 of N. J.; more common near the coast and less common inland, than 

 elsewhere. 



2. C. fasciculata (Michx.) Greene. (Cassia Chamaecrista L.). 



In dry soil: Mass. to Minn., Fla., Miss, and Tex. 

 The distribution of the preceding, but not definitely known 

 north of Westchester Co., N. Y. 



3. Cassia [Tourn.] L. 

 I. C. marylandica L. In swamps and wet soil: N. E. to Fla., 

 Mich., Neb. and La. 



Conn. Not very common over most of the state. 

 N. Y. Rare on L. I. and S. I., decreasing up the Hudson Valley 

 to Dutchess Co., unknown northward. 

 * See Introduction paragraph 34. 



