LEGUMINOSAE 253 



1. r. cumingiana Benth. 



An erect or spreading slightly branched, pubescent, shrubby or suffrutes- 

 eent plant 1 to 2 m high or less. Stems 3-angled, densely pubescent. Leaves 

 3-foliolate; leaflets ovate to rhomboid-ovate, acute, 5 to 12 cm long, rather 

 densely pubescent beneath, the lateral ones inequilateral. Racemes in the 

 upper axils, dense, pubescent, 2 to 5 cm long. Flowers about 8 mm long. 

 Calyx densely silky-pubescent, as long as the corolla. Standard rather 

 dark-purple, the wings and keel greenish. Pod inflated, about 1 cm long. 



In thickets, Pasay, Caloocan to Masambong, etc., fl. Dec.-Peb.; of local 

 occurrence in the Philippines. Endemic. 



2. F. STROBILIFERA (L.) R. Br. Payang-payang; Paraparanahan (Tag.). 

 An erect branched shrub 0.5 to 2 m high, .the branchlets velvety, the 



leaves slightly pubescent or nearly glabrous, ovate to oblong, simple, acute 

 or bluntly acuminate, base rounded or subcordate, 6 to 14 cm long, the 

 nerves ascending. Racemes axillary and terminal, 5 to 15 cm long, com- 

 posed of numerous, thin, rounded or reniform, folded, imbricated, green 

 bracts which enclose the fascicles or dwarfed cymes of small flowers; 

 bracts very shortly petioled, cordate, 1.5 to 2.5 cm long. Rachis of the 

 racemes zig-zag. Corolla yellowish-green, tinged with purplish, about 8 mm 

 long. Pods oblong, 1 cm long or less, swollen, 2-seeded. 



In thickets and open dry places, fl. Dec.-Feb.; widely distributed in the 

 Philippines, undoubtedly introduced. India to China and Malaya; intro- 

 duced in Mauritius and in the West Indies. 



42. MEDiCAGO Linnaeus 



Erect or trailing herbs with pinnately 3-foliolate leaves, the leaflets 

 toothed. Calyx-tijbe campanulate, subequally 5-toothed. Corolla exserted, 

 . free from the staminal-tube ; standard and wings oblong;' keel straight, 

 obtuse. Stamens diadelphous; filaments slender. Ovary many-ovuled; 

 style short, slightly incurved ; stigma oblique. Pod spirally twisted, many- 

 seeded, indehiscent. (Greek name for alfalfa or lucerne, which came from 

 Media.) 



Species albout 40, chiefly in the Mediterranean region; 2 introduced in the 

 Philippines. 



1. M. DEN-EMJUIiATA Willd. 



An annual, prostrate or spreading, branched, nearly glabrous herb, the 

 stems 20. to 40 cm long. Leaflets obovate-cuneate, 1 to 2 cm long, toothed; 

 stipules laciniate. Peduncles axillary, short, closely 2r to 6-floWered. 

 Flowers yellow, about 5 mm long. Calyx-teeth as long as the tube. . Pod 

 with 2 to 4 spirals, the margins pectinate with spreading spines. 



A casual plant in recently disturbed soil, adventitious from Europe or 

 America, fl. Apr. and probably in other months. Europe and Asia to 

 Japan; introduced in North America. 



43. PUERARIA DeCandolle 



Slender or coarse, twining, herbaceous or suflfrutescent vines with 3- 

 foliolate leaves, the leaflets stipellate. Flowers small to large, in few- to 

 many-flowered, simple or compound racemes. Calyx-teeth long or short, 

 the upper 2 connate. Corolla exserted; standard as long as the wings 

 and keel. Stamens monadelphous. Ovary many-ovuled. Pod linear, com- 

 pressed. 



