278 BIGN0NIAC7,iE. (bIGNONIA FAMILT.) 



bell-shaped, 5-lobed, somewhat irregular and 2-lipped, deciduous ; the low- 

 er lobe largest. Stamens inserted on the corolla ; the fifth or posterior one, 

 and sometimes the shorter pair also, sterile or rudimentary : anthers of 2 

 diverging cells. Ovary free, bearing a long style, with a 2-l)pped stignia. 

 — Leaves compound or simple, opposite, rarely alternate. Flowers large 

 and showy. — Chiefly a tropical family ; only two species indigenous within 

 our limits. It includes two suborders, viz : — 



SiTBOKDEK 1. BIGN0NIEJ3. The True Bignonia Family. 



Woody plants, with 1 - 2-celled and 2-valved pods, the valves separating 

 from the partition when there is any. Seeds transversa very flat, winged ; 

 the broad and leaf-like cotyledons notched at both ends. 



1. BIGNONIA. Pod flattened parallel with the partition. Leaves compound. 



2 TECOMA Pod with the convex valves contrary to the partition Leaves compound. 



3. CATALPA. Pod aa in No. 2. Leaves simple. Fertile stamens only 2. 



Suborder II. SESAME.^. The Sesamum Family. 



Herbs, with the fruit more or less 4 - 5-celled. Seeds attached by one 

 end, not winged ; the cotyledons thick and entire. 



4. MARTYNIA. Fertile stamens 2 or 4. Fruit fleshy without and woody within, beaked. 



1. BIGIVONIA, Toum. Bignonia. 



Calyx truncate, or slightly 5-toothed. Corolla somewhat bell-shaped, 5-lobed 

 and rather 2-lipped. Stamens 4, often showing a rudiment of the fifth. Pod 

 long and nan-ow, 2-celled, flattened parallel with the valves and partition. Seeds 

 transversely winged. — Woody vines, with chiefly compound leaves, climbing by 

 tendrils. (Nanied for the Abbe Bignon.) 



1. B. capreolata, L. Smooth; leaves of 2 ovate or oblong leaflets 

 and a. branched tendril, often with a pair of accessory leaves in the axil resem- • 

 bling stipules; peduncles few and clustered, 1-flowcred. — Rich soil, Virginia, 

 Kentucky, Illinois, and southward. April. — Stems climbing tall trees ; a trans- 

 verse section of the word showing a cross. Corolla orange, 2' long. Pod 6' 

 long. Seeds with the wing Ij' long. 



2. TECOMA, Jnss. Trumpet-flower. 



Calyx bell-shaped, 5-toothed. Corolla funnel-form, 5-lobed, a little irregular. 

 Stamens 4. Pod long and narrow, 2-celled, the partition contrary to the convex 

 valves. Seeds transversely winged. — Woody vines, with compound leaves. 

 (Abridged from the Mexican name.) 



1. T. radicans, Juss. (Trumpet Creeper.) Climbing by rootlets ; 

 ieaves pinnate ; leaflets 5-11, ovate, pointed, toothed; flowers corymbed; sta- 

 mens not protruded beyond the tubular-funnel-form corolla. (Bignonia radi- 

 cans, L. ) — Rich soil, Pennsylvania to Illinois and southward ; but cultivated 

 farther north. July. — Corolla 2' - .3' long, orange and scarlet, showy. 



