108 



WEEDS AXD USEFUL PLAXTS. 



I, B. tincto'ria, R- Brown. Bushy; smooth, and rather glaucous; 

 leaflets cuneate-obovate : stipules subulate, deciduous ; racemes termi- 

 nal, few-flowered. 



Dyer's Baptisia. Wild Indigo. Horse-fly "Weed. Battle Bush. 



Perennial. Stem about 2 feet high, much brauched. Lea He's ha\^ an inch to an inch 

 loug ; common petioles 1 hne to >^ of an inch iii length. Flowers yellow ; cal^^■.T 4-tootheil — 

 the 2 upper segments being united. Legumes about half an incli long, inliated, conspicu- 

 ously stipitate. 



Dry hills and woodlands : common. June - September. 



Obs. The Wild Indigo, which is introduced here on account of its re- 

 puted medicinal qualities, is conspicuous when in flower, especially in 

 sandy woods and fields. It is said that a coarse kind of Indigo can be 

 prepared from it> loavc>. Init we know of no reliable experiments upon 

 this point. Medlciiiaily. it is said to possess emetic and pura-ative prop- 

 erties, and has been used exteriially as an application in foul ulcers. It 

 is often used to drive flies away from horses, being attached to their 

 harness, hence one of the common names ; it is probable that its efficacy 

 in this case, if there be any, is wholly mechanical, and not due to any 

 peculiar property of the plant. Several other speci,es are found in the 

 South and West ; among these is B. australis, Tv. i>r6 which is 

 often cultivated, — it is 4 - 5 feet high, with large racemes, 1-2 feet 

 long, — of handsome blue flowers. 



16. CER'CIS, L. Red-bud. 



[Greek, Kerkis, a weaver's shuttle ; from the form of the legume.] 



Calyx 5-toothed, Corolla scarcely papilionaceous ; petals all distinct, uu- 

 guiculate, — the vexillum smaller than the wings, and the keel-petals 

 larger. Stmncns unequal. Legume oblong, acute at each end. much 

 compressed, 1-celled, many-seeded, — the upper suture margined, seeds 

 obovate ; radicle straight. Small trees, with simple entire leaves, and 

 membranaceous caducous stipules. Flowers fasciculate along the 

 branches, appearing before the leaves. 



1. C. Canadeil'sis, L. Leaves orbicular-cordate, acuminate, villous in 

 the axils of the nerves beneath. 

 Canadian Cercis. Red-bud. Judas-tree. 



Stemlo-20 or 30 feet high and 6-12 inches in diameter, with somewhat geniculate 

 branches. Leaves 'S- 4: inches long ; petioles 1-2 inches loug. Flowers bright purple, 

 acid, on filiform jyedicels which are clustered (4-6 or S from a bud) ou the naked branches- 

 I^umes about three inches long, subcoriaceoiis, smooth. 



Banks of streams : Canada to"" Louisiana. Fl. April. Fr. June. 



Ohs. This little tree is admired, in early spring, for its clusters of 

 small flowers, which clothe the branches, and even the trunk, in purple, 

 before the leaves appear. Although not of agricultural importance, it 

 deserves to be known, and to have a place among ornamental shrubbery 

 and trees, around the mansion of the tasteful farmer. 



