m STRUCTURE OF FLOWERS IN CLASS XVIL 



Corolla — Termed papilionaceous, unequal; the petals e^=» 

 pressed by distinct names, viz. 



Vexillum, the standard ; a petal covering the rest, incumbent, 

 greater, piano-horizontal, inserted by its claw in the upper mar- 

 gin of the receptacle, approaching to a circular figure when it 

 leaves the calyx, and nearly entire; along it, and especially to- 

 wards its extremity, runs a line or ridge, that rises up, as if the 

 lower part of the petal had been compressed ; the part of the pe- 

 tal next to the base approaching to a semicylindric figure, em- 

 braces the parts that lie under it. The disk of the petal is de- 

 pressed on each side, but the sides of it nearest the margin are 

 reflexed upwards. Where the halved tube ends, and the halved 

 limb begins to unfold itself, are two concave impressions pro- 

 minent underneath, and compressing the wings that lie under 

 them. 



Alee, the ivings, two equal petals, one at each side of the 

 flower, placed under the vexillum ; incumbent with their mar- 

 gins, parallel, roundish, or oblong, broader upwards, the upper 

 margin straighter, the lower spreading more into a roundness ; 

 the base of each wing bifid, the lower division stretching jout 

 into a claw r , inserted in the side of the receptacle, and about the 

 length of the calyx ; the upper shorter and inflexed. 



Carina, the keel, the lowest petal often bipartite, placed un- 

 der the vexillum and between the alae, boat-shaped, concave, 

 compressed on the sides, set like a vessel afloat, mutilate at the 

 base, the lower part of which runs into a claw, of the length 

 of the catyx, and inserted in the receptacle, but the upper and 

 *ide lacinias are interwoven with that part of the alas that is of 

 the same shape. The form of the sides of the carina, is much 

 like that of the alae ; and so also is their situation, except that 

 they are lower, and stand w ithin them. The line that forms the 

 carina, or keel, in this petal, runs straight as far as the middle, 

 and then rises gradually in the segment of a circle, but the mar-- 



