1897.] D. Prain — Some additional Leguminosae. 395 



This species is the Desmodium fioribundum of G. Don (Hedysarum fioribundum 

 of D. Don). The F. B. I. suggests that it is the same as D. sambuense DC. (Hedy- 

 sarum sambuense D. Don) ; this is undoubtedly the case. The name D. fioribundum, 

 used in the F. B. I., only dates from 1832, whereas the names D. multiflorum DC. and 

 D. elegans Lindl., given as synonyms, date from 1825 and 1826 respectively. Authors 

 have accorded preference now to one, now to another of the rival names D. fioribun- 

 dum and D. multiflorum, while as a matter of fact the synonym that should have 

 been used throughout is the one here employed. 



D. elegans has thinner leaves, less hairy beneath, and blunter at the points 

 than those of D. sambuense proper ; D. fioribundum (D. multiflorum) has more 

 numerous racemes and smaller leaves than D. sambuense proper. But all sorts of 

 intermediates occur, and it is impossible to separate the three even as varieties. 



216. Desmodium kulhaitense C. B. Clarke MSS. ; leaflets entire, 

 pedicels long, joints many small quite glabrous. 



Sikkim ; at Hee, 4000 feet, Clarke nn. 13096 ! 13109 ! 



Branches woody, obscurely angled, sparsely hirsute. Stipules lanceolate, £ in ., 

 leaflets subcoriaceous, wide -lanceolate, perfectly glabrous above, very densely vel- 

 vety with adpressed grey-silky hairs beneath; end-leaflet 2^-4 in. long, £-1 in. 

 across, on a petiolule |— f in. long, gradually tapering upwards from junction of lower 

 and middle thirds to a long subacuminate point, and dowuwards to a rounded or 

 cuneate-truncate base ; lateral leaflets almost sessile, 2-3 in. long, i to f in. across, 

 tapering upwards like the central but with a very oblique rounded base. Racemes 

 rather copious, axillary and terminal, 5-8 in. long; pedicels usually ^ in, very 

 slender, glabrescent. Calyx £ in., teeth lai'ger than tube. Corolla unknown. Pods 

 1—li in. long, under -i in. broad ; joints 6-8, longer than broad, without pubescence, 

 finely reticulate-veined. 



This plant is very nearly related to the preceding, of which it has the habit. 

 But its less angular branches, its very different leaves, and its glabrous pods with 

 finely reticulate joints borne on slender pedicels twice as long, make it very distinct. 

 Mr. Clarke, the only botanist who has met with the plant, originally gave to his 

 specimens the name now quoted, perhaps without any intention of incurring the 

 responsibility of recognising it as specifically distinct; indeed he has, at a later 

 date, himself reduced it to D. multiflorum (D. sambuense). Mr. Kurz, Mr. Brace, 

 Dr. King and the writer having at different times independently examined 

 Mr. Clarke's specimens, and having all formed the opinion that his plant must be 

 distinguished as a species, this opportunity is taken of providing the diagnosis neces- 

 sary for its recognition ; Mr. Clarke's original tentative name, being an excellent 

 one, has been adopted here. 



The relationship of this plnnt is, however, even more close with the next species, 

 of which it has the long-pedicelled flowers and glabrous pods, with joints reticulated 

 externally, than it is with D. sambuense. But the species referred to (D. JcJiasia- 

 num) has much larger pods, as large as in D.serriferum and in D. tilisefolium, while 

 the somewhat similar leaflets, also glabrous above, are smaller and much less hairy 

 beneath. 



21c. Desmodium khasianum Prain; leaflets entire, pedicels long, 

 corolla large, bracts lanceolate, joints of pod many large quite 

 glabrous, reticulate-veined. D. serriferum Wall. Cat. 5708 (C only, in 

 J. ii. 50 



