82 



LEGUMINOSJE. [Lourea. 



10. LOUREA, 



Calvx broadly campanulate, enlarged and membranous after flowermg, with 

 5 ovate-lanceolate shortly pointed lobes. Petals nanw. Stamens diadel- 

 phous Pod straight, consisting of two or more distinct articles tolded upon 

 each other as in Uraria.— Herbs or undershrubs, with the habit of some Mes- 

 ■modiums. Leaves with 1 or 3 leaflets. Plowers smaU, in termmal racemes 

 or panicles. 



A smaJl genus, limited to tropical Asia, and cHefly foand in the Malayan Peninsula and 

 Archipelago. 



I. Ii. obcordata, Desv.;, DO. Prod, ii. 324. Stems slender, prostrate, 

 usually shortly hairy, 1 to 2 ft. long. Leaflets usually 3, the terminal one 

 broadly obovate, orbicular, or reniform, 6 to 9 lines broad, truncate or emar- 

 ginate at the top, with 3 to 5 lateral veins branching from each side of the 

 midrib, the lateral ones ovate or obovate and smaller, sprinkled with a few 

 small haii-s. Eacemes mostly terminal, slender, 2 to 6 in. long, or shorter 

 and paniculate. Plowers small, shortly pedicellate. Calyx at first not above 

 1 line long and hairy, but after flowering attaining 3 lines, and completely en- 

 dosing the pod. 



Hongkong, Champion, Wright. Frequent in the Indian Arcliipelago, extending to 

 Burmah, the Philippines, and northwards to Amoy. 



11. DESMODIUM, DC. 



Calyx campanulate, with 4 acuminate teeth or lobes ; the upper one 2- 

 toothed or 2-cleft, or rarely equally 5 -cleft,. Petals nan-ow, the standard obo- 

 vate, the wings usually adhering laterally to the keel, which has often on each 

 side at the point of adhesion a small oblique membranous appendage. Stamens 

 either monadelphous, with the sheath open on the upper §ide, or the upper 

 stamen more or less free. Ovary sessile or stipitate, with 2 or more ovules 

 (except in one Indian species). Style glabrous, with a minute terminal 

 stigma. Pod consisting of 2 or more flat articles, usually reticulate. — Herbs, 

 shrubs, or trees. Leaves with 1 or 8 leaflets. Flowers usually small, in ter- 

 minal or leaf-opposed racemes or panicles, or rarely in axillary clusters. 



A very large genus, widely dispersed over the tropical regions of the New and the, Old 

 T/Vorld, with a few species in extratropical N. America, S. Africa, ov Australia. It may be 

 readily divided into 14 or 15 well-marked sections, which have been proposed by myself or 

 others as distinct genera, buton a general review it appears more convenient to retain. them 

 all under one common generic name. 



Calyx narrow and acute at the base. Keel usually without lateral ap- 



Leaflet 1, the petiole winged. Keel beaked. Ovules several. Plowers 



racemose, with small bjacts \. D. triquetrum. 



Leaflets 3, the petiole not winged. Keel obtuse. Ovules 3. Flowers 

 in dense clusters, sessile on the branches of a large panicle, with 

 a large bifoliolate leEufy bract to each cluster. 

 Leaves very softly hairy, whitish underneath. Pod of 3 silky-hairy 



articles i. D. elegams. 



Leaves slightly hairy above, softly hairy underneath. Pod of 2 



glabrous articles, ciliate on the edge . 3. D. pulchelhm. 



