liEGUMINOSAE 225 



1. E. SAMAN (Jacq.) Prain {Pithecolobium saman Benth.). Acacia (Sp.- 

 Fil.) ; Rain-tree. 



A large tree reaching a height of 20 to 25 m, the branches wide-spread- 

 ing. Leaves evenly 2-pinnate, p innae 8 to 12, 15 em long or less; leaflets 12 ' 

 to 16 in the upper pinnae, 6 to 10 in the lower ones, decreasing in size down- 

 ward, pubescent beneath, oblong-rhomboid, base and apex more or less 

 oblique, the midnerve diagonal, 1.5 to 4 cm long. Flowers pink, in dense, 

 peduncled, axillary solitary or fascicled heads. Pod straight, somewhat 

 fleshy, indehiscent, 15 to 20 cm long, 2 cm wide, the mesocarp pulpy, sweet. 

 (Fl. Filip. pi. 309.) 



Very commonly cultivated as a shade tree, decidou s in February, fl . 

 March-Sept.; quite generally cultivated in the larger towns in the Phil- 

 ippines. A native of the West Indies, now widely distributed in the tropics 

 in cultivation. 



2. PITHECOLOBIUM Martius 



Erect trees with 2-pinnate leaves sometimes with spinose stipules. 

 Flowers small, perfect, 5-merous, in globose heads which are solitary, fas- 

 cicled, or paniculate. Calyx campanulate or funnel-shaped, shortly toothed. 

 Corolla narrowly funnel-shaped, the petals united below the middle. 

 Stamens exserted, monadelphous ; anthers not gland-crested. Ovary many- 

 ovuled; style filiform; stigma capitate. Pod strap-shaped, variously 

 falcate, or circinate, usually much twisted at maturity, dehiscent. Seeds 

 arillate or not. (Greek "monkey" and "pod.") 



Species about 100, tropical, mostly American, 9 in the Philippines. 



1, P. DULCE (Roxb.) Benth. ' Camanchiles, Camonsil (Sp.-Fil.). 



A tree 5 to 18 m high, the ultimate branches often pendulous, armed 

 with short, sharp, stipular spines. Leaves evenly 2-pinnate, 4 to 8 cm 

 long; pinn;ae a single pair, each pinna bearing a single pair of oblique, 

 ovate-oblong, obtuse, 1 to 4 cm long leaflets. Flowers white, in dense 

 heads about 1 cm in diameter, their peduncles solitary or fascicled in the 

 axils of small bracts, along the slender branchlets. Pod turgid, twisted, 

 often spiral, 10 to 18 cm long, about 1 cm wide, dehiscent along the lower 

 suture, the valves red when ripe. Seeds 6 to 8, surrounded by an edible, 

 whitish^ pulpy arillus. (Fl. Filip. pi. 2S7.) 



Common and widely distributed, fl. Oct.-April. A native of tropical 

 America, now throughly naturalized in^the Philippines, and also found in 

 India and Malaya. The local names are corruptions of its old Mexican name 

 Quamochitl. 



3. ALBIZZIA Durazz 



Unarmed trees with 2-pinnate leaves. Flowers small, 5 merous, perfect, 

 pedicelled or sessile in globose heads which are usually paniculate. Calyx 

 campanulate or funnel-shaped, toothed. Corolla funnel-shaped, the petals 

 united below the middle. Stamens many, monadelphous at the base, long- 

 exserted; anthers not gland-crested. Ovary many-ovuled. Pod thin, flat, 

 strap-shaped, straight, not curved or twisted, indehiscent or Very tardily so. 

 (In honor of the noble Italian family of Albizzi.) 



Species about 30 in the tropics -of the Old World, 8 in the Philippines. 



111666 ^16 



