POLYPETALOUS EXOGENOUS PLANTS. 211 



distinct or united ; anthers 2-celled, opening by a terifii- 

 nal pore ; ovary 1-celled, 2-ovuled ; fruit 1-seeded, woody, 

 indehiscent, armed with hispid prickles. Albumen none. 

 Radicle concealed in the cotyledons. 



KRAMERIA. 



K. LANCEOLATA. Herbaceous. Stems slender, prostrate, 

 mostly branching; leaves lanceolate or linear, acute; ^je- 

 dunclcs longer than the leaves, leafy-bracted above the 

 middle claws of the posterior petals, and stamens, united ; 

 fruit globose, downy, armed with a few strong spreading 

 spines. Root long and woody. Stems 1° long. 



42. PULSE FAMILY. Order, Leguminos^. 



Herts, shrubs, or trees. Leaves alternate, usually com- 

 pound, margins entire ; stipules 2 at the tumid base of the 

 petioles ; sepals 5, more or less united, often unequal, the 

 odd one anterior ; jt;e2'aZ5 5, either papilionaceous or regu- 

 lary perigynous, the odd one, when present, posterior; 

 stamens diadelphous, monadelphous, or distinct, inserted 

 on the calyx; anthers versatile; ovary superior, single 

 and simple ; fruit a legume, either continuous (1-celled) or 

 (a loment) joined into 1-seeded cells; seeds solitary, or 

 several, destitute of albumen. The papilionaceous corolla 

 (as seen in the pea-blossom) consists of 5 irregular petals 

 — an upper one, generally largest and outside in the bud, 

 called the standard or vexillum, two side petals, called 

 wings, and two lower ones put together and commonly a 

 little joined, forming a kind of pouch which encloses the 

 stamens and style, and which, being shaped somewhat like 

 the prow of an ancient vessel, is named the keel. A few 

 flowers in the family are almost regular, or not papiliona- 

 ceous. In one case all but one petal is wanting. Another 

 set have perfectly regular blossoms ; the pod and the leaves 



