Order 46.— LKGUMINOS^. 29^ 



diadolpboQS, monadelphous or distinct. Anthers versatile. Oia superior, single and 

 simpla Style and stigma simple. Fr. a legume, cither continuous (1-celled), or 

 (a lomentX joined into 1-sceded cells. Sds. solitary or several, destitute of albumen. 

 Illnst. in figs. 99, 15S, 100, 161, 164, 165, ITT, ISO, 131, ISl, 80G, 316, 31T, 36:), 445, 446, 466. 

 The genera and species of this vast order were estimated by Mr. Bentham in 1S45, as 

 follows; 



Suborder 1. Papllionnccje, S-'jO genera, 4fi00 speciop. 

 " 2. Coisaliiinca;, hS " TOO 

 " 4. Mimosea), 29 " lOUO 



" Total, 467 " 6600 



Geography. — ^Tlio Legnniinosje are distributed throughout all lands, with the exception of a 

 few unimportant Islands, from the equator to the frigid zones. Of its 6500 species now knowu, 

 about 350 are natives of the United Btattis and Territories. 



PropertiM. — No family of the vegetable kingdom possesses a higher claim to the attention of 

 the naturalist than the lleguminosae, whether we regard them as olyects of ornament or utility. 

 Of the former, we might mention the splendid varieties of Cei'cis, with their purple flowei-s, th«! 

 Acacias, with their .airy foliage and silken stamens, the Pride of India. Colutea and Ojesalpinf., 

 with a host of others, which, like the Sweet Pea, ai'e redolent with perfume. Of the latter, the 

 beans, pefts, lentils, clover and lucerne, are too well known to require recommendation, Amonf; 

 timber trees, the liosewood (a Brazilian speeie.s of Mimosa), the Laburnum, who.so wood ia 

 dur.ab!e and of an olive-green color, and the Locust of our own country ai c prei^minent. 



The following are a few of the important officinal prod'ucts of this order. In medicine-, 

 liqitorice Is the product of the root of Glycyrrhiza glabra of b, Kurope, The purgative i^enii!. 

 000.91815 of leaves of Cassia Senna, C, acutifdlia, C. jEthiopIca, and other species of Egypt and 

 Arabia. C. Marylandica is also a cathartic, but more mild than the former. Tlie sxVeet pulp 

 tamarind, is the product of a large and beautiful tree (Tamarindus Indiea) of the E. and W. 

 Indies. Keeins and Balsams: ffum Senegal Is yielded by Acacia Verek of the Itivor Scneg.il ; 

 fium Arabic, by several species of Acacia of Central Africa; Giim Trugaci/ntli, by Astragalus 

 verus Ac;, Persia. BaUcim Copaita is the product of several species of Copaifera, natives <.f 

 lir.izil and W, Indies; BaUam Toln of Myospermum toluifernum of Pern, and JJafoflm Peru 

 of M, peruiferum of the same country. Dyes, &c, : Indigo, the most valuable of all (but a violeut 

 poison), is the product of several southern species of ludigofera, us \. anil of the W, In<lie8, and 

 f. argentea of Egypt. Brazil-wood from Oa'salpina Brazilicnsis. I.og-wood from Ha!m.itoxylon 

 Campeachianum, of Campcachy, and lied Saiidal-lcood from X'terocarpus simt.ilinus of Egypt, 

 Ac., Ac. 



SUBORDERS, TRIBES AND GENERA. 

 § Corolla valvate in o!StIvation, regular. Flowers in dense heads or spike,'!. 



Leaves twice pinnate Subokdkk I. (a) 



S Corolla Imbricate in Estivation, the npper or odd pcUil interior or the 



llower subregular Subokdkk IL (b)' 



S Corolla imbricate in ajstivation, the upper petal (vexillum) exterior 



Flowers papilionaceous : Subokdke III. <•) 



* Stamens 10, all distinct. Tribk 1 . (o) 



* Stamens 10, all or 9 nnitod (2) 



2 Leaves cirrhous, the rachis ending with a tendril. Tkibe 2. (d) 

 2 Leaves not cirrhous. (3) 

 3 Pod a loment (§578), of transverse, 1-seeded joints. TkibbS. (e) 

 3 Pod a legume 1— 2— GO-seeded, not In Joints. (4) 

 ■4 Erect (or, if prostrate, with palmately 8-foliate leaves). Cotyledons thin, 



becoming leafy in germination. Teibe 4. (f) 

 4 Trailing or twining vines with pinnatoly compound leaves. 

 Cotyledons thick, not bocoining leaves in germination. Tkibb 3, (g) 



Suborder I. MIMOSEjE. 



a Pods flat, composed of one or more l-sceded joints Mimosa. 1 



a Pods continuous,— pricklv, 4-sided and 4-valvcd Scheankia. 2 



-smooth,— turgid, filled with pulp • Vaouellia. S 



—compressed, dry,— ris, all perfect,', IIbsmasthu*. 4 



' — Fls. polygamous. LVrAci.\ ^ 



Suborder II. CiES ALPINES. 



b Kls. dioiceons, greenish, stamens 10. A tree unarmed GTMNOCl.Anrt-. ft 



b Fls. polygamous, green, stamens 5. Trees thorny leditschia. i 



b Fls. perfect,— yoliow.-Lcaves equally pinnate Cassia, 8 



— purplo, papilionaceous. Leaves simple Ctiisis. 9 



Suborder III. PAPILIONACE^. 



O 1 PoDALTBiiLA'..— Ugumc flat and thin, short-stiped, Lvs. pinnate Ci.AnASTHls, 10 



—I^egume Inflated, stipltate. Lvs. palmately l—8-fol!ttte B.ip-jsia. 11 



