46 
NORTH AMERICAN 
scariose fewer, rays 3 to 5, floscules 4 to 5. 
320. Lax anon diversifolium Raf, quite 
smooth, stem and branches flexuose, radical 
and lower leaves narrow pinnatifid segments 
oblong unequal remote falcate, upper leaves 
graminiform obtuse entire, umbels 2-3flore, pe- 
duncles unequal smooth, filiform, sepals of pe- 
rianthe ovatoblong obtuse — in Arkanzas, col- 
lected by Nuttal, found in Collins herb, among 
the Krigias as a N. G. not named : it is a se- 
cond sp. of my G. Laxanon see 204. Habit of 
a Krigia, lower leaves similar 4 or 5 inches 
long, stem pedal, leaves narrow 2 or 3 inches 
long, the 2 last subopposite forming a kind of 
involucre to the small umbellule, seeds ovate 
oblong striate. 
321. BAPTXSIA Vent. &c. This fine Ge- 
nus of N. Amer. plants had been blended with 
the African Sophoras and Podalyrias till lately. 
Even now it includes 3 or 4 distinct Genera ! 
Our compilers had only 8 sp. Nuttal had added 
3 hardly congeneric, I shall add some others, 
and thus we shall have 15 sp. but now distribt- 
ed in 4 Genera of which I will give short mo- 
nographs. They are Baptism , Ripasia , La - 
sinia and Pericaulon which differ more 
in habit and characters, than from the akin 
Genera Podalyrias Thermopsis, Rafnia , Tem- 
pletonian Pitcheria 8 lc. 
Baptisia Raf. calix urceolate unequally 4fid 
one tooth often emarginate, petals subequal pa- 
pilionaceous, vexillum emarginate revolute 
wings callose or toothed inside, keel subequal 
obtuse, stamens 10 free unequal, style curved 
simple, stigma obtuse. Pod stipitate ovate or 
globose ventricose smooth polysperm. — Peren- 
nial plants , leaves trifoliate sub sessile , not 
