S7 



RAFNIA TRIFLORA. 



(Three-flowered Rafnia.} 



LINNEAN SYSTEM. ' _ , , NATURAL ORDER. 



No. 114. 



MONADELPHIA DECANDMA. LEGUMINOS^E. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Rafnia. (Thunb.) Calyx ad medium 5-fidus, lobis 4 superioribus latioribus nunc distinctis, 

 nunc inter se varie subconnexis, infimo setaceo acutissimo. Corolla glabra, carina obtusa, 

 vexillo subrotundo. Stamina monadelpha, vagina demum superne fissa. Legumen lance- 

 olatum compressum polyspermum. Suffrutices Capenses glabri, exsiccatione ssepius lurido- 

 nigrescentes. Folia simplicia integra non amplexicaulia alterna, floralia interdum opposita. 

 Flores flavi. — (Decand. Prod. vol. ii. p. 118.) 



Calyx divided into 5 parts to the middle, the 4 upper lobes broader, sometimes distinct, some- 

 times variously joined ; the last division setaceous, and very acute. Corolla smooth, keel obtuse, 

 standard roundish. Stamens monadelphous, sheath afterwards splitting on the upper side. 

 Legume lanceolate, compressed, many-seeded. Shrubs natives of the Cape of Good Hope, 

 smooth, in drying frequently becoming blackish. Leaves simple, entire, not amplexicaul, 

 alternate ; floral leaves sometimes opposite. Flowers yellow. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



R. triflora. Glauca; foliis ovatis, vel obovatis; ramis angulatis; pedunculis in axillis 

 superioribus, ssepius ternis unifloris bibracteolatis. 



Glaucous ; leaves ovate, or obovate ; branches angular ; peduncles situate in the upper axils of 

 the leaves, oftentimes in threes, one-flowered, and two bracts. 



Rafnia triflora. — Thunb. 



Crotalaria triflora. — Berg. - 



Borbonia cordata. — Andr. 



Descr. — The whole plant glaucous. Stem about three feet high, angular. Leaves alter- 

 nate, either ovate or obovate, acute ; midrib strong, feather- veined ; • veins anastomosing. 

 Flowers yellow, pedicellate. Pedicels about an inch long, situated in the axils of the leaves, 

 arranged in threes (but only one flower opening at once) ; standard ovate; margin reflexed; 

 wings the length of the keel ; apex acute and incurved. Keel obtuse, of a paler yellow than 

 either the wings or standard. Calyx divided in 5 parts, unequal, the two upper divisions broader 

 than the two lower ones. Stamens arranged in one set, filiform. Anthers dehiscing towards the 

 axis. Pollen smooth, spherical. Stigma capitate. Ovarium compressed, smooth. Ovules 

 kidney-shaped. 



VOL. III. NO. XXXI. SEPTEMBER, 1839. O 



