412 PHANEROGAMIA. 



44. ASTRAGALUS, Linn., Benth. 



Astragalus & Phaca, Linn. (excl. sp.), DC., EndL, etc. 



1. Astragalus distans, Sp. Nov. 



A. cinereo-pubescens ; radice annua; caulibus a basi ramosis gracilibus ; 

 stipulis parvis a petiolo Uteris inter se subconnatis ; foliolis 9-13 

 angustissime linearibus obtusis ; pedunculo folium superante laxe 

 niultifloro; dentibus calycis subulatis tubo paullo brevioribus; corolla 

 ochroleuca; legumine deflexo ovoideo-oblongo cinereo-pubescente apice 

 acuto incurvo polyspermo uniloculari, suturis utrisque leviter intro- 

 fiexis. 



Var. ? /?. legumine majore recto, suturis vix intrusis. 



Hab. Rio Negro, North Patagonia ; on sand-hills. 



Root annual. Stems branched from the base, slender, diffusely 

 spreading or ascending, a foot or more in length, flexuous, cinereous, 

 as is the whole plant, with a fine strigulose pubescence. Stipules 

 small, scarious, ovate-subulate, free from the petiole, more or less united 

 with each other on the opposite side of the stem. Leaves H to 2 

 inches long, including the short petiole. Leaflets 9 to 13, very nar- 

 rowly linear, half an inch to an inch long and only half a line wide, 

 plane, or the margins involute when young, obtuse, the upper surface 

 becoming almost glabrous with age. Peduncles axillary, exceeding the 

 leaves, 2 or 3 inches long, bearing a loose, many-flowered, spike-like 

 raceme, of an inch or two in length. Pedicels shorter than the calyx, 

 recurved, as long as the subulate bractlets. Flowers 3 or 4 lines 

 long. Calyx oblong-campanulate, hirsute-pubescent with whitish 

 and a few brownish hairs; its subulate teeth rather shorter than the 

 tube, about half the length of the apparently yellowish-white corolla. 

 Legume deflexed, ovoid-oblong, not more than 5 lines long, 2 lines wide, 

 nearly terete, abruptly acute, not at all stipitate nor tapering at the 

 base, cinereous-pubescent like the stems, more or less incurved at the 



