68 FAM. 92. 



2-pinnate leaves; the white or pink flowers in axillary spikes; 

 calyx and corolla 4-5 lobed, the former minute; stamens 4-10, 



Mimosa, Sensitive Plant 

 M. strigillosa, prostrate herb with long petioles and peduncles, flowers pink. 

 Riverbanks. Summer. 



92. Cassiaceae, Senna Family. 



Trees, shrubs and herbs with alternate, often stipu- 

 late leaves and mostly perfect flowers; calyx of 5 more 

 or less united sepals; corolla of 5 petals, the upper one en- 

 closed by the lateral ones in the bud; stamens 10 or less, 

 with distinct or united filaments; ovary 1-celled, style 

 1, ovules 1-many; fruit a legume. 



1. Leaves entire or 2-lobed, the petiole prolonged into a short awn be- 

 tween the leaves; — a shrub or small tree cultivated for its large, 

 almost regular, very showy flowers, - - Bauhinia, Mountain Ebony 



B. purpurea has purplish petals, one of them streaked with white. Spring. 

 B. triandra, with pink flowers. Autumn. 



B. alba and B. accuminata have white flowers. Early Spring. 



1. Leaves even-pinnate, __.__-___ _ 2 



1. Leaves bi-pinnate, ---------- -3 



2. Calyx-lobes obtuse, corolla almost regular; — petioles with 1-several 



glands, stipules deciduous; the yellow flowers in terminal or ax- 

 illary panicles or racemes; stamens 5 or 10, all normal or 3 of 

 them reduced to staminodia; filaments unequal, - - Cassia, Senna 



C occidentalis. A stout branching annual; stipules filiform, caducous; leaf- 

 lets 8-12, with 2 petiolar glands between the lower pairs; flower large; leg- 

 ume linear. Waste places. Summer. 



2. Calyx-lobes acuminate, corolla irregular; — petioles bearing 1, rarely 



2 glands near the base; stipules persistent; the yellow flowers 

 solitary or clustered; stamens 10, or some of them reduced to 

 staminodia; filaments short, _ - - Chamaecrista, Sensitive Pea 

 C Chamaecristoides. Stems low and spreading, somewhat pubescent; leaflets 

 12-36; petiolar gland small, round; flowers solitary on filiform peduncles; 

 calyx-lobes linear, ciliate; petals large. Dry ground. Summer. 



C. aspera. Stems tall, erect, hispid with fulvous hairs; leaflets 40-50; petiolar 



gland slender; peduncles 2-3 flowered, very short. Waste ground. Sum- 

 mer. 



3. Flowers dioecious or polygamous, small, greenish, in axillary or lateral 



racemes; — sepals and petals 3-5; stamens 6-10, filaments distinct; 

 pod flattened, more or less curved, - Gleditschia 



G. triacanthus, Honey-locust. A tree armed with branching thorns; leaves 

 numerous with 12-28 leaflets; staminate racemes solitary or clustered; pods 

 long, black, twisted; seeds numerous. Spring. 



3. Flowers perfect, showy, ----------4 



4. Flowers in racemes or panicles; calyx-lobes 5, petaloid, the lower 



lobe overlapping the other ones; petals 5, unequal, highly col- 

 ored; stamens 10, with distinct filaments, pods narrow, nearly 

 straight, Cultivated. Summer. - Poinciana 



