PHANEROGAMIA 



557 



the structure of the flowers are chiefly due to the various forms as- 

 sumed by the corolla, in part also to the unequal development of the 

 androecium. The stamens are sometimes straight, sometimes curved, 

 united or free, usually ten in number, but at times reduced by 

 suppression or increased by division. On the other hand, the 

 gyncecium and flower-axis, to the variability of which the diversity 

 of form exhibited by the flowers of the Bosiflorae is so largely due, 



Fig. 533. — Acacia 

 size). — Officinal. 

 Schumann.) 



Flowering branch (nat. 

 (After A. Meyer and 



Fig. 534. — Cassia aeutifolw . Leaf and inflor- 

 escence. — Officinal. (After Berg and 

 Schmidt.) 



are very uniformly developed in the Leguminosae, and take but small 

 part in the various modifications met with in the structure of the 

 flowers. 



Unlike the flowers, the fruit of the Leguminosae almost always pre- 

 sents the same structure. In the majority of cases it is a many- 

 seeded legume, rarely a dry indehiscent fruit, or it may be a berry or 

 drupe. Even when thus modified, all the forms of the fruit bear a 

 certain degree of resemblance to each other. 



The inflorescences are most generally racemose ; racemes, spikes or 

 capitula, with in all cases lateral flowers. The leaves are scattered, 

 usually pinnate or bipinnate, with leaflets either entire or slightly 



