74 DICOTYLEDONOUS. 



brous on the upper surface, puberulent on the lower. Flovjers axillary, sdi' 

 tary, or in terminal racemes, hegume large, somewhat globose, or ovate- 

 lanceolate, generally villous. 



Yellow. %. April — May. In dry soils. Common. 2--3 feet.'' 



3. B. TiNCTORiA. Stem glabrous, heaves ternate, nearly pessile ; leaflets 

 obovate. Flowers in terminal racemes, few. Legumes small, glabrous, on 

 long stipes. Wild Indigo. 



Yellow. %. June — Aug. Common in dry soils. 1-.2 feet. 



4. B. AusTRALis. Stem glabrous, somewhat decumbent, heaves ternate, 

 nearly sessile ; leaflets cuneiform, obtuse. Stipules often persistent, lanceolate. 

 Flowers in long racemes, large, vexillum shorter than the wing, hegumes 

 large, acuminate, oblon». 



Blue. %. June — July. In moist soils. 2—3 feet. 



5. B. ViLLOSA. Stem villous, pubescent, branched, heaves ternate, nearly 

 sessile ; leaflets lanceolate-oblongf, or slightly cuneate, pubescent when young, 

 afterwards nearly or quite glabrous. Flowers in terminal elongated racemes. 

 Pedicels erect, i^racis subulate. Calyx 4-cleft, with appressed hairs. CoroUa 

 4-cleft. hegumes oblong, woolly. 



Grayish. %. June — July. Middle Georgia. 2-3 feet. 



6. B. Alba. Stem branching, glabrous, heaves ternate, on slender peti- 

 oles ; leaflets lanceolate, cuneate, obtuse. Flowers in elongated racemes. 

 Pedicels filiform- Calyx 4-cleft, seoments short, upper one emarginate. Le- 

 gumes cylindrical, inflated. Seeds small. 



White. %. March — April. Common. 1--2 feet. 



7. B. Bracteata. Stem pubescent, branching from the base ; branches 

 divaricate, heaves ternate on short pftioles or sessile ; leaflets lanceolate or 

 oljlong-ovate. S^ijou'es large, foliaceous, persistent. Fiowershrge, in decUn- 

 ed, many-flowered racemes. PediceU long, drooping. Bracts hke the stip- 

 ules. Calyx 4-cleft, the upper one broadest and emarginate. Leg"MOTe inflated, 

 villous. 



Grayish. %. April— May. Middle Ga. 1-2 feet. 



Remarks. The Baptisias are quite conspicuous among the flowering plants of the 

 early part of summer. Tlie B. Tincioria possesses valnal.le properties. ^It is decidedly 

 antiseptic, and, on this account, is used in cases approacliing uiortification ; either in- 

 ternally or applied to the surface in the form of catapliisms, as ilie case requires. It is 

 an emetic and cathartic inlar<re doses, but in small ones is a mild laxative. The root 

 is the part generally used, but the whole plant is said to possess similar properties. 



Genus XXXVII. CERCIS. 



Calyx 5 toothed, campamilate, gibbous at the base. Petals 

 distinct, vexillum small within the wings ; keel larger than 

 the wings, composed of two distinct petals. Stamens distinct, 

 unequal. Legume compressed, many seeded, oblong, acute, 

 on a short stipe. Trees with simple leaves, flowering before 

 putting forth leaves. 



1. C. Canadensis. A small tree, with smooth bark, and somewhat genicu- 

 late branches. Leoi^e.'? broa '-cordate, acuminate, villous along the veins be- 

 neath. Flowers in axillary racemes. Calyx pubescent at the margin. One" 

 of the most ornamental trees of our forests. Bedbud, JndaS'tree, 



Rose color. 1^. March. Common. 15-20 feet. 



Genus XXXVIII. CASSIA. 



C«??/a; 5-sepaled ; sepals slightly united at the base, gen- 

 erally unequal. Petals 5, unequal. Stamens unequal, the 



