180 NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 
(Absus, Cathartocarpus, Psilorhegma), subequal or higher stamens 
smaller; anthers subuniform 2-celled introrse, dehiscing by 2 short 
oblique, confluent or poriform, slits at apex, or more rarely by a 
basilar aperture ; or else 3-5 higher stamens smaller or sometimes 
very small, imperfect or abortive, sterile. Germen free, sessile or 
stipitate, central, straight or oftener arched, -ovulate; style short 
or long; stigma terminal small, either truncate, or more rarely 
swollen, minutely ciliate, concave, or else urceolate containing 
papilla. Legume either terete or crasso-compressed, woody, divided 
by transverse septa between seeds, indehiscent (Cathartocarpus) or 
2-valved, plano-compressed (Chamesenna); or thin membranous 
much compressed, thickened in middle over seeds, subindehiscent 
(Senna), at base and apex usually acute (Chamecrista, Absus), more 
rarely winged, bare within or septate between seeds or full of pulp. 
Seeds transverse or more rarely longitudinal (Prososperma), horizon- 
tally or vertically compressed, more rarely quadrilateral subterete ; 
embryo albuminous ; cotyledons flat or more rarely arched or 
‘ undulate; radicle short straight.—Trees, shrubs, or herbs; leaves 
alternate paripinnate, rarely reduced to phyllodes; stipules and 
petiolar glands variable or 0; flowers in axillary or terminal, simple 
or branched compound racemes, more rarely solitary or few in each 
axil; bracts and bractlets variable (4// tropical and subtropical and 
a few temperate regions). See p. 116. 
49? Petalostyles R. Br.—Flowers of Cassia ; stamens 5, subhy- 
pogynous ; 3 fertile anterior, anthers 2-rimose; 2 sterile acuminate. 
Germen sessile o-ovulate; style dilated into a petaloid cuculate 
much reflexed 3-lobed sac; middle lobe longer stigmatiferous at 
apex. Legume oblong-linear plano-compressed oblique, 2-valved. 
Seeds oblique compressed albuminous; funicle dilated into a small 
fleshy aril; cotyledons flat ; radicle short straight—An unarmed 
shrub; leaves imparipinnate; stipules small caducous; flowers 
axillary solitary pedunculate (Australia). See p. 121. 
50. Labichea Gaupicu.—Flowers of Cassia, 4—5-merous. Stamens 
2, free, usually unequal; 1 sometimes sterile; anthers basifixed, 
2-porous at apex. Germen free, sessile or shortly stipitate, pauci- 
ovulate; style short; stigma small terminal. Legume oblong or 
lanceolate, compressed 2-valved. Seeds compressed albuminous 
