Sophorea.] leguminos^. 95 



or more, very rarely 3 or 1, leaflets. Stamens all free. Pod continuous (hot 

 articulate), indehiseent or 3-valved. 



37. BOWRIlfGIA, Champ, 



Calyx membrana'ceous, loosely cup-shaped, truncate and minutely 5-toothed. 

 Standard broad. Keel-petals rather larger than the wings and scarcely co- 

 hering at the outer edge. Stamens 10, free. Ovaiy stalked, with several 

 ovules. Pod turgid, ovoid or nearly globular, pointed. Seeds strophiolate. 

 Eadical straight. 



The genus consists but of a single species. 



1. B. callicarpa, Champ, in Kew Journ. Bot. iv. 75. A woody climber, 



glabrous in aU its parts. Leaves simple, or rather reduced to a single leaflet, 



ovate or oval-oblong, acuminate, 3 to 3 in. long, on a petiole of -J to 1 in., 



without stipelliB. Stipules minute and deciduous. Eacemes very short .and 



axillary, of 2 to 5 white flowers, on pedicels of about 3 lines. Calyx about 



1^ lines long, usually turned back on the pedicel as the flowering advances. 



Keel-jietals nearly -J in. long, the others rather shdrter. Pod about 1 in. long, 



of a coriaceous consistence. Seed scarlet. 



Abundant in ravines of Victoria Peak, Champion, and otbers. Not known as yet out of 

 the island. . i ■ 



28, SOPHOBA, Linn. 



Calyx campanulate, shortly 5-toothed. Standard rather broad. Keel-petals 

 -equal to, or rather longer than the others, scai-cely cohering on the outer edge.. 

 Stamens free. Ovary shortly stalked, with sever^ ovules-. Style glabrous, 

 with a minute terminal stigma. Pod cylindrical or slightly compressed, fleshy 

 or hard and woody, contracted between the seeds, and usually indehiseent. 

 Eadicle curved. — Trees, shi-ubs, or very rarely herbs. Leaves pinnate, the 

 leaflets usually opposite, with a terminal odd one. Eacemes simple, terminal, 

 or. several forming a termiaal panicle. 



A genus not very numerous in species, but widely scattered oyer tropical and temperate 

 Asia, and tropical and subtropical America. 



1. S. japonica, Linn. ; DC. Frod. ii. 95. A handsome tree, glabrous 

 in all its parts. Leaflets 11 Jo 15, ovate, oblong or. alinbst. lanceolate, 1 to 3 

 in. long, membranaceous, glaucous underneath. Flowers white and pale yel- 

 low, fuU i in. long, in large terminal panicles. Calyx narrowed at the base, 

 .the teeth obtuse. Pod succulent, contracted between the seeds so as to appear 

 to be composed of 4 to 6 oblong articles, each about -5, in. long. 



Hongkong, Himee. Believed to be a native of Japan or Chiuaj or both, but ao frequently 

 planted that we have no authentic records of its truly indigenous state. 



39. OBMOSIA, Jacks, 



Calyx campanulate, 5 -cleft, or the two upper lobes often united into one. 

 Stai),dard broad. Keel-petals not longer, fr,ee. , Stamens free, often veiy uur 

 equal, and one sometimes without any anther. Ovary sessile or nearly so, 

 with 3. or few ovules. Style roUed inwards at the top, with a fetpral stigma. 

 Pod flattened, 3- to 4-seeded, opening in 3 thickly coriaceous or almost woody 



