LF.CI'MIXOSjE. 87 



smoothish; stipules subulate; panicle terminal; legumes with 3 to 4 rhomtoidal 

 joints. 



Woods; common. July, Aug. Stem. 2 to 3 feet high, slender, often branching. 

 Leaflets 3 to 5 inches long, 2 to 8] £ wide. Flowers purple, numerous, in a panicu- 

 late raceme. Legumes large : joitits pubescent. 



12. D. RIGIDUM, DC. Rigid Desmodium. 



Stem branching, somewhat hoary; leaflets ovate-oblong, rather obtuse; terminal 

 onia the longest, reticulated-veiny, rather rough above, hairy beneath; racemes 

 paniculate, erect, very long: ijum-s with 2 to 3 half-round or oval hisped joints. 



Pry woods and hillsides. Aug. Stem 2 to 3 feet high, often with numerous, 

 long, erect, rigid branches. Leafit /.< 1 to 3 inches iong, ]/ z as wide, rather leathery 

 reticulately veined. Flowers small, purple. 



13. D. ciliare, DC. Fringed Desmodium. 



Stem slender, hairy, or rough pubeseent ; leaves crowded on very short hairy 

 petioles ; leaflets small, round-ovate or oval, obtuse, thickish, more or less hairy on 

 the margins and underneath; stipules subulate-linear; racemes paniculate, tcs- 

 minal. 



Dry hills and sandy fields; common. Aug. Skm about 2 feet high. Leaflets % 

 to 1 inch long, 14 to % wide. Flowers violet-purple. Legumes of 2 to 3 semi- 

 orbicular hispid joints. 



14. D. Marilandicum, Booth. Smooth-leaved Des'm. 



Xcarly smooth throughout ; stein erect, simple, slender; leafletsowAa or roundish, 

 very obtuse, often sub-cordate, thjn; petiole as long as the lateral leaflets, smooth; 

 panicle elongated: legume with 2 to 3 hisped semi-orbicular joints. 



Fields and woods; common. July, Aug. Stem 2 to 3 feet high, nearly smooth.. 

 Leaflets about % inch long. Flowers small, violet-purple, in a terminal erect 

 panicle. 



15. LESPEDZA. Michx. 



In honor of Lespedez, a Spanish Governor of Florida. 



Calyx 5-cleft, segments nearly equal, slender. Stamens 

 diadelphous (9 and 1) ; anthers all alike. Legume of a 

 single 1-seeded joint, oval or roundish, flat, reticulate, not 

 opening, 1-seeded. — Perennials icithp innately trifoliate leaves, 

 minute stipules and bracts, and of ten polygamous flowers. 



* Flowers of 2 kinds, perfect, and apetalous, tlie latter chiefly bearing the fruit ; 

 corolla violet or purple, much longer than tixe calyx, 



1. L. procumbens, Michx. Procumbent Lespedeza. 



Stems procumbent, slender, with the branches assurgent, all over pubescent; 

 leaves on long petioles ; leaflets oval or elliptical, obtuse, mucronate peduncles slen- 

 der, mostly simple, few flowered; legume orbicular ovate, pubescent. 



Sandy soil. Aug., Sept Stems several from the same root, 2 to 3 feet long. Leaves 

 consisting of 3 oblong or roundish leaflets on hairy stalks. Flowers purple, iu 

 short raceme-like heads, axillary; the lower ones apetalous, on short peduncles, 

 the upper ones on long filiform peduncles. 



2. L. viOLACEiE, Pers. Violet-flowered Lespedeza. 



Stems npright or spreading, somewhat pubescent; leaves on long petioles; leaflet? 

 elliptic or oval-oblong, obtuse or emarginate, somewhat hairy ; racemes sub-umbel- 

 late, axillary, about as long as the leaves, lower ones with apetalous flowers } 



