83 



ASTRAGALUS LAXMANNI. 



(Laxmann's Astragalus.) 



LINNEAN SYSTEM. 



DIADELPHIA DECANDRTA 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Astragalus (De Cand.) Calyx 5-dentatus. Corolla carina obtusa. Stamina diadelphia. 

 Legumen biloculare aut semi-biloculare, sutura inferiore introflexa. Herbae ant suffrutices.— 

 De Cand. Prod. vol. ii., p. 281. 



Calyx five-tootlied. Corolla with an obtuse keel. Stamens in two sets, 9 and 1. Legume 

 two-celled or nearly so, having the lower suture bent inwards. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



A. Laxmanni; (Jacq.) diffuso-procumbens glabriusculus ; foliolis 6-8 oblongis; stipulis folio 

 brevioribus; spicis oblongis pedunculitis folio longioribus ; vexillo ahs longiore; calycibus 

 nigricantibus ; leguminibus oblongis villosis ; f ortius cajruleis. 



Stem diffuse-procumbent, smoothish ; leaflets from 6-8, oblong ; stipules shorter than the 

 leaves ; spike oblong, pedunculate, longer than the leaves ; standard longer than the wings ; 

 calyxes covered with blackish hairs ; legume oblong, villous ; flowers blue. 



Descr.— Stem diffuse, procumbent, minutely covered with blackish hairs. Leaves contain- 

 ing about 6 to 8 leaflets, oblong lanceolate, somewhat mucronate. Flowers numerous, in oblong 

 spikes, pedunculate, longer than the leaves ; peduncles covered with close depressed blackish 

 hairs. Standard narrow, elliptical, longer than the wings. Wings linear, longer than the keel. 

 Keel obtuse. Calyx densely covered with blackish hairs, which are more conspicuous in the 

 calyx of the unexpanded flowers than in those which are expanded, and divided into five subu- 

 late portions. Bracts ovate, acuminate, shorter than the calyx. Stamens diadelphous, contain- 

 ing nine combined, and one free, smooth. Style the length of the stamens, smooth. Stigma 

 minute. Ovarium densely covered with white hairs. 



This is a pretty, hardy herbaceous plant, bearing long spikes of pleasing blue 

 flowers. It is a native of Siberia, and was introduced about the year 1804. The. 

 plant from which our drawing was taken was growing in the garden of the Bir- 

 mingham Botanical and Horticultural Society, raised from seeds presented to 

 that establishment by Dr. Fisher, of St. Petersburgh. It should be planted in 

 rather a strong soil, and may be increased by dividing in the spring, or by seeds 

 when they ripen. 



m 2 



NATURAL ORDER. 



LEGUMINOSiE. 



