186 LBGIMINOSJ!. 



Indian form is puberulous, not contracted; flowers purplish. — Hab. Naturalized in Jamaica !, 

 Pd. ; S. Kitts !, Antigua !, WulUchl. ; Trinidad I, Gr. ; [introduced from the East Indies]. 



15. DESMODIUM, DC. 

 Calyx-tuie shortly campanulate. Standard obovate : wings adherent to the blunt, biaurl- 

 cled keel. Vexillar stamen adherent to the column, or free. Znmentum compressed : joints 

 many to 2.- — Herbs or shrubs ; leaves pinnately 3-foliolate, or reduced to a single leaflet : sti- 

 pules usually scarious ; &o-wei:s fascicled-racemose, rarely in simple fascicles. 



Sect. 1. Sagotia. Lomentum-suture continuous : joints reticulated, truncate at the ends, 

 tardily dehiscent. — Flower-fescicles opposite to the leaves ; calyx-segments rigid, pilose. 



45. D. triflonim, DC. Procumbent, diiluse, hairy j leaflets obovate or obcordate: 

 f stipules acuminate, persistent ; pedicels geminate (or 4-1) ; lomentum sessile, slightly 



arcuate : joints 3-6, subqnadrate, broadly rounded on the dorsal margin. — Sua. Ohs. t. 6. f. 

 1. Mart.Fl.Bras.'ii.t.'ifi.f.X. — Hedysarum, X. Sagotia, T^aip. Nicholsonia, GV.— Ke- 

 sembling Clover ; pedicels as long as the lomentum ; corolla small, crimson, included «ithin 

 the calyx. — Hab. JamaicaJ, Macf., Al., a. common weed; Antigua!, WuUschl.; [Mexico 

 to Brazil 1, trop. Africa 1 ; JEast Indies I]. 



Sect. 2. NiCHOLSONiA. Lomenium-suture continuous : joints transversely veined, truncate 

 at the ends,' tardily dehiscent. — Pedicels 2 (-3), arranged in rq,cemes : bracts large, 

 scarious. 



46. D. barbatum, Benth. Suffrutescent ; leaflets elliptical-oblong, oval, obovate, or 

 elliptical-lanceolate ; flowers in corymbs, crowded : bracts lanceolate, acuminate ; calyx at 



f-^ length nodding, long-pilose: divisions lanceolate-setaceous; lomentum sessile, reflexed, 

 puberulous : joints 2-4, subquadrate, broadly rounded on the dorsal margin. — Mart. M. 

 Bras. 24. t. 36./. 2.— Hedysarum, Sw. Nieholsonia, DC. — Exceedingly variable in down, 

 stature, and form of leaflets ; flowers light-blue or purple. 



a. Stem stout, erect, villous ; leaflets elliptical-lanceolate or elliptical-oblong ; pedicels 

 equalling the bracts. 



p. cceruleo-violaeeum, DC. Stem erect, pubescent , leaflets elliptical, eQiptical-oblong, or 

 obovate; pedicels exceeding the bracts. — DC'Leg.t. 51. — Hedysarum, 3fi?y. .' Nieholsonia 

 cayenneusis, DO. 



y. venustulum. Stem difi'iise, pubescent or glabrate ; leaflets small, obovate or dlip- 

 tioal-oblong ; pedicels much exceeding the bracts.- — Hedysarum, Kth. Nieholsonia, DO. 



Hab . Jamaica I, all coll., in pastures (7) ; Trinidad I, Or., in savannahs, (o, ;8) ; [Mexico I 

 to Brazil!]. 



47*. D. heterocarpum, DC. Suffrutescent : leaflets obovate-oblong, lateral ones some- 

 what smaller ; flowers in elongated racemes, crowded : bracts subulate ; lomentum subsessile, 

 erect : joints 6-4, subquadrate, broadly rounded on the dorsal margin. — Hedysarum, L. D. 

 polycarpum, DC. — Hab. Naturalized in S. Vincent !, Guild. ; [introduced from the East In- 

 dies 1, China !, trop. Australia !, Pacific islands !]. 



Sect. 8. Hetekoloma. Zomentum-suture continuous or slightly notched: joints 

 reticulated, half-round or half -oval, indehiseent. — ITlowers racemose. 

 48. D. adscendens, DO. Ascending-difi'use ; branches cylindrical ; leaflets 3, obovate 

 or oval-roundish: stipules distinct; lomentum subsessile, straight, uneinate-pubescent : 

 ' sutui'c continuous, dorsal margin sinuate to the middle : joints 5-2, semioval. — Kth. N. 

 Gen.t.59T. — Hedysarum, Sto. D. raeemiferum, DC. D. eilipticum, J&c/'. / D. obovatum, 

 Fog. I — Leaflets blunt, rarely subacute ; flowers small, purple. — Ha^. Jamaica I, Macf. 

 M'Nah ; S. Kitts !, Bis.; Antigua!, WuUschl.; Dominica!, 7iot. ; S. Vincent !, Guild.; 

 Trinidad 1, Sch., Lochh., Or. ; [Mexico I to Peru 1 and Bio Grande do Sul !]. 

 / ., 49. D. incanum, DO. Diffase ; branches cylindrical; leaflets 3 (-1), ovate or oblong 

 ■f subacute (rarely lanceolate), glaucous beneath : stipules connate to the middle, at length 

 snbdistinct ; lomentum subsessile, straightish, uneinate-pubescent : suture continuous, dorsal 



margin sinuate as deep as' to the suture: joints 5-8(-2), semioval. — SI. t. 118./. 1, 2. 



Hedysarum, jSmi. H. supinum, Sw. D. supinum, DC. — Erect or ascending, variable in 

 growUi ; flowers small, purple. 



