38 
BLUNT LEAVED INGA. 
Mimosa Unguis-cati. Linn. Spec. 499. Wield. Sp. pi., vol. 
4. p. 1006. Jacqtjin, Hort. Schoenbrunn, yol. 2. tab. 34. 
Descourt. Flor. Antil., vol. 1 . tab. 11 . Swartz, Obs. p. 
389. Macfadyen, Flor. Jam., vol. 1 . p. 306. 
Acacia quadrifolia , siliquis circinnatis. Plumier, (Ed. Bur- 
man,) Icon. 4. Pluken., tab. 1. fig. 6. 
.Acacia arbor ea major spinosa, pinnis quatuor, siliquis varie 
intortis. Sloane, Hist. Jam., vol. 2. p. 56. 
Mimosa fruticosa, foliis Ovatis binato-binatis, seminibus 
atro-nitentibus. Browne, Jamaic., p. 252. 
This very singular leaved tree, attaining about the 
height of from 10 to 20 feet, is indigenous to many of 
the West India Islands, as well as to Cumana and 
Cayenne on the neighbouring continent, where it was 
observed by Humboldt and Bonpland, and in the latter 
place by Aublet. This is also another of the Caribbean 
productions which extends to the limits of the United 
States, having been recently found in Key West by our 
friend Dr. Blodgett. 
The wood is said to be yellow, the summit of the tree 
irregular, and the branches straggling. The smaller 
twigs are round and gray, inclining to brown, and 
covered with minute warts. The thorns are stipular, 
or come out at the junction of the leaf with the stem; 
they vary in size, but are always short, and in some of 
the twigs wholly absent. The leaves are bipinnate, 
only 4 in number, the leaflets on each pinule being only 
a single pair, sessile, obovate, very obtuse or subemargi- 
nate and rounded above, glabrous and of a thin texture, 
with widely reticulated nerves; the petiole channelled 
above, with a hollow circular gland at the junction of 
the secondary petioles. Racemes terminal, thyrsoid, 
the pedicels long and fastigiate, almost like a corymb. 
Flowers greenish-yellow and smooth, in globose heads. 
Calyx small, 5-toothed. Corolla more than twice the 
