POLYPETALOtiS EXOGENOUS PLANTS. 227 



diadelplioiis ; legume commonly turgid, few-many-seeded, 

 usually partly or completely 2-celled by the introversion of 

 one or both of the sutures. — Herds, with unequally pinnate 

 leaves, and axillary spiked or racemose flowers. 



* Legumepartly or completely 2-celled by introversion of the dorsal suture. 



A. OBCORDATUS, Ell. Smoothish ; stems prostrate ; leaf- 

 lets small, 17-25, obcordate ; peduncles as long as the 

 leaves, loosely 8-15-flowered ; legumes crescent-shaped, 

 compressed, veiny, partly 2-celled; leaflets 3"-4" long; 

 floivers pale purple; perennial. 



** Legume ovate, thick and fleshy. 



A. TRICHOCALYX, G. and T. Stems numerous, decum- 

 bent, somewhat pilose with appressed hairs ; sti^mles lanceo- 

 late ; leaflets 10-lG pairs, elliptical-oblong, obtuse ; iKdun- 

 cles about the length of the leaves ; racemes short and 

 crowded; bracts a little longer than the pedicels; calyx 

 densely villous with mostly whitish hairs ; the teeth subu- 

 late, scarcely half the length of the tube; legume thick 

 and somewhat fleshy, glabrous, finely wrinkled transversely. 

 — Dr. Leavemvorth. 



^^ NvMall says this species is remarkable for its succuleiit 

 legumes, which are filled tvith a siueetish and rather agreea- 

 ble juice, so that they ivere frequently collected by the imrty 

 with lohich he traveled, as an article of foodP — Gray and 

 Torrey. 



*** Legumes curved. 



A. DiSTORTUS, Gray and Torrey. Pubescent, prostrate ; 

 leaflets 8-12 pairs, oblong or ovate, sometimes elliptical, 

 usually emarginate ; jjeduncles longer than the leaves ; 

 spike roundish or oblong, 10-20-flowered, loose ; calyx 

 clothed with blackish hairs ; the teeth broad acuminate. 



