Desmodidm.] LEGUMINOSM. 28-^ 



lanceolate, green, membranous, subglabrous. HacQmes, copious, axillary 

 and terminal, the latter much, branched ; bracts minute, setaceous ; 

 pedicels |-| in., filiform, spreading, glabrous. Calyx very small, teetb 

 as long as the tube. Pod |-.^ in. long, spirally twisted, deeply indented 

 on both sutures ; joints 4-6, glabrous. 

 jj_ ^j<^ Prov (Royle), Bundelkand (Edgeworth). Distrib. Africa^ 

 Trop. America and Polynesia. 



8. D. diffusum, DC. in Ann. 8c. Nat. Ser. I,iv, 100 ; W. (Sj- A Prod. 

 226* ; F.B.I. ii, 169 ; Watt E.D. Hedysarum articulatum and quinquangu- 

 latum, Eoxb. FL Ind. Hi, 355 ; Boyle III. 194. 



A diffuse or procumbent herb. Stems 1-2 ft. long, stout, angular, clothed 

 with spreading grey hairs. Leaves 3-foliolate ; petiole 4-l| in., densely- 

 hairy ; stipules large, leafy, amplexicaul and auricled ; leaflets 1-3 in.,, 

 ovate'oblung >r obovate, obtuse, apiculate, rounded or acute at the base^ 

 subcoriace us, rough and reticulate-veined above, finely grey-downy 

 and conspicuously veined beneath; stipels rather large, lanceolate. 

 Racemes copious, about 1ft. long, axillary and terminal. Flowers very 

 small, laxly arranged in fascicles of 2 or 3 on a hairy rachis ; pedicels 

 slender, hairy; bracts minute, lanceolate. Calyx-teeth very small, 

 linear, ciliate. CoroWa twice the calyx, pinkish. Pod l-J in., indented 

 on both sutures ; joints l-tJ, about as broad as long, clothed with 

 hooked grey hairs. 



Eohilkhand (Duthie's collector) Bundelkhand and on the Malwa plateau, 

 up to 4,0UU ft. (Edgeworth). Distrib. South to Ceylon, and in 

 Burma. The foliage is much eaten by cattle. 



9. D. triflorum, DC. Prod, ii, 334; Boyle III, 194; D Sf G. Bomb, 

 Fl'.67 ; F.B.I, a, 173 ; Watt E.D. D. triflorum var. miaus, W. Sf A. Prod. 

 229, Hedysarum triflorum, Linn.,; Boxb. Fl Ind. Hi, 353. 



A small trailing perennial herb, with stems 6-8 in. longj branches 

 many, clothed with fine spreading hairs. Leaves 3-fpliolate, 4 in. long, 

 petiole -g- in. : stipules lanceolate, persistent ; leaflets ^-^ in., obovate- 

 cuneate, truncate or emargiaate, membranous, glabr jus above, sparsely 

 >ippressedly hairy beneath ; stipels minute, subulate. Flowers 1-3 

 together in the axils of the leaves ; pedicels about 4 in. Calyx xo in.jr 

 clothed with long white hairs; teeth lung, setaceous. Corolla f in., 

 pink e-r white. Pod about i in., indent jd on the lower suture ; joints 

 3-5, reticulate- veined, pubescent. 



Abundant within the area. Distrib. Outer Himalaya, up to 7,000 ft. 

 in Kashmir aud 4,UU0 ft. in Kumaon, and throughout India ; cosmopoli- 

 tan in the tropics. The growth of this plant on pasture-land should 

 be encouraged, aS it forms a most excellent turf, and is much liked by 

 cattle. It also sta-nds drought well, and by its habit ^f growth it acta 

 as a very efficient soil-binder. The fresh leaves are sometimes used 

 for the healing of wounds. 



10 D parvifolium, DC. in Ann. 8c. Nat. 8er. I, iv {1825), 100 ; W. ^ 

 A. Prod. 229; F.B.I.n,174; Watt h). D, 



