LEGUMINOSZ-PAPILIONACEZ. 373 
constant, or which can distinguish it absolutely from the two other 
suborders of Leguminose. It may, however, be said, speaking 
generally, that Papilionacee are curvembryate Leguminose with an 
inflexed accumbent radicle, compound stipulate leaves, resupinate 
flowers, a concave floral receptacle, a gamosepalous calyx, and an 
irregular corolla, so arranged in estivation that the vexillary petal 
envelopes the lateral ones, which themselves overlap the pieces of 
the keel. These peculiar characters of the corolla long ago led to 
the name Papilionacee [butterfly-like] being given to this group; a 
name found in most authors for a century before Tournzrort, by 
which this author distinguished two of his classes (10-22), and 
which Linnzus adopted for the title of an order.'. But R. Brown? 
was the first to point out clear limits to the group Papilionacez in 
the year 1814, and his limits have been, with slight modifications, 
adopted by his successors.’ 
The 293 genera that we admit in this group, omitting for the 
moment all reference to a few doubtful or very ill-known generic 
types,’ comprise about 5300 species.’ ‘Twenty years ago only 48C0° 
were admitted, though the number of species doing double duty was 
then multiplied indefinitely. Hence we may not unfairly assume 
that in some years, about 5500 distinct species of Papilionacee will 
have been described. It is impossible to lay down their exact geo- 
graphical distribution, with the very insufficient figures we have at 
present.’ But it may be stated generally that they occur in all 
countries, from the equator to those bordering on either pole. 
1 Class, Plant, (1738), Ord. 55. — Papilio- 
and Loment: (Prel,, ed. G1Es., 415). 
2 In Flind, Voy., ii. 551. 
3 DC., .Prodr., ii. (1825), 983-524,—EnDL., 
-G@en., 1253, Ord, cclxxv.—Linvu., Veg. Kingd. 
(1846), 544 (Fabacee).—B, H., Gen., 435, 437, 
465, 1001. 
4 Viz.—1. Bradburya Rarin., Fl. Lud., 104 
(Galactia, ex EnvL., Gen., n. 6653) ;—2. Cra- 
fordia Ra¥tn., ex DC., Prodr., ii. 522 (Tephro- 
sia? ?);—8. Malaparius MiQ., Fl. Ind.-Bat,, i, 
p. 1, 1082 (Pterocarpus flavus Lour., Fl. Coch., 
ed, 1790, 431) ;—4. Placolobium Miq., op. cit., 
1082 ;—5. Chenolobium M1Q., op. cit., Suppl., 
i. 302 (a genus formed from fruit) ;—6. Nothoc- 
nestis MiQ., op. cit., Suppl., i. 580; Mus. Lugd.- 
Bat., iii, 88 (Leguminosa dub., ex BENTH. ; Con- 
naracea, ex MQ.) ;—7. Singana AUBL., Guian., 
574, t. 230 (Tounatea ? ?) ;—8. Radackia ENDL, 
in Ann. Wien. Mus., i. 186 (nom.). 
5 Thus divided according to the present state 
of knowledge: Viciew, 207; Phaseolea, 561; 
Galegea, 1377; Lotee, 105; Trifoliee, 311; 
Hedysarea, 618 ; Dalbergiee, 303; Genistee, 
835 ; Podalyriea, 415 ; Sophoree,104; Tou- 
natee, 72. 
§ This is the number given by Linpuey (Veg. 
Kingd., 556) in 1846, as the result of Brn- 
THAM’s valuation, and is made up as follows: 
Podalyriea, 350; Lotee, 3000; Hedysarea, 
500; Phaseolee, 650; Dalbergiee, 250; So- 
phoree, 50. 
7 See Linpu., Veg. Kingd., 546.—A. DC. 
Géogr. Bot. Rais., 438, 437, 508-512, 530-538, 
837, 854, 1193-1233. 
