LEGUMINOS^. (PULSE FAMILY.) 115 



* * Stamens 5 - 10 : antkers all perfect : sepals acute: stipules persistent. 



6. C. Chamaecrista, L. Annual ; stem smooth or rusty-hairy ; leaflets 

 small, numerous, linear-oblong, mueronate ; stipules acuminate, nerved ; flowers 

 borne above the axils, large, clustered, on long pedicels ; anthers 10 ; style slen- 

 der ; legume linear, nearly straight. — Dry barren soil, Florida to Mississippi, and 

 northward. July and August. — Stem l°-l£° high. Part of the petals often 

 purple at the base. 



7. C. nictitans, L. Annual ; pubescent; leaflets numerous, oblong-linear; 

 stipules and bracts subulate ; flowers small, 2 - 3 in a cluster above the axils, on 

 short pedicels ; petals unequal ; stamens 5, nearly equal. 



Var. aspera. ( C. aspera, Ell.) Hirsute; stamens 7-9, very unequal ; ovary 

 very hairy; flowers larger. — Dry old fields, Florida to North Carolina, and 

 westward. August — Stem 1° high, often prostrate. Leaflets about 40, sensi- 

 tive, like those of the preceding species. 



44. GLEDITSCHIA, L. Honey-Locust. 



Flowers polygamous. Sepals 3-5, united at the base, spreading. Petals as 

 many, or less by the union of the 2 lower ones. Stamens 3 -5, distinct, inserted 

 with the petals on the base of the calyx. Legume stipitate, flat, 1 -many-seed- 

 ed. Seeds compressed. — Thorny trees. Leaves abruptly 1-2-pinnate, with 

 oblong serrate leaflets. Flowers small, greenish, in short spikes. 



1. G. triacanthos, L. Leaflets lanceolate-oblong; thorns mostly com- 

 pound ; legume very long, many-seeded, pulpy within. — Rich woods, Florida 

 to Mississippi, and northward. June and July. — A large tree. Legume 12'- 18' 

 long, 1' wide, twisted. 



2. G. monosperma, Walt. Leaflets ovate or oblong ; thorns mostly 

 simple ; legume short, obliquely oval, I -seeded, not pulpy. — Deep river swamps, 

 Florida to Tennessee, and westward. Julv. — A small tree. Legume 1' lornr. 



Suborder TIT. MUHOSEJE. Mimosa Family. 



45. MIMOSA, L. Sensitive-Plant. 



Flowers polygamous. Calyx minute, 4-5-toothed. Petals united into a 

 4-5-cleft tubular-eampanulate corolla. Stamens 4-15, distinct, much exsert- 

 ed. Legume compressed, mostly jointed, 1 - many-seeded ; the broad valves 

 separating at maturity from the persistent margins. — Herbs, shrubs, or trees. 

 Leaves bipinnate, sensitive. Flowers white or rose-color, capitate or spiked, on 

 axillary peduncles. 



1 • M. Strigillosa, Torr. & Gray. Herbaceous and rough with scattered 

 oppressed rigid hairs; stem prostrate; leaves long-petioled ; pinnae 5-6 pairs ; 

 leaflets 10- 14 pairs, oblong-linear ; peduncles longer than the leaves; heads of 

 flowers elliptical ; legume oval or oblong,. 1 -3-jointed, hispid. — Banks of rivers, 

 East Fiorida, and westward. July and August. — Flowers rose-color. 



