142 THE LADIES' FLOWER-GARDEN 
Most of the species are Cape shrubs, but some are hardy perennials. The leaves are variable in the different 
species, but the stipules always adhere to the petioles. The flowers also vary in their disposition, and in their 
colour, being white, blue, or purple. 
1.— PSORALEA MELILOTOIDES, Michx. THE MELILOT-LIKE PSORALEA. 
leaflets lanceolate, glandular beneath ; peduncles racemose, length of 
leaves i racemes or spikes linear ; bractcas acuminated, longer than 
the calyx. 
Synonymks. — P. Asphaltitcs, Sol. ; Melilotus psoraloides, Nutt. ; 
Trifolium psoraloides, Walt. 
Engraving. — Bot. Reg. t. 454. 
Specific Character. — Plant pubescent ; leaves pinnately trifoliate ; 
Description, &c. — ^The species is a hardy perennial, with long spike-like racemes of dark purple flowers, 
somewhat resembling those of Hardenbergia Comptoniana. The stem grows about a foot-and-a-half high, and 
the racemes of flowers are on long terminal peduncles. The species is a native of Virginia and Carolina, whence 
it was introduced in 1814. It is tolerably hardy, but is killed by severe frosts. 
2.— PSORALEA PUBESCENS, Balb. PUBESCENT PSORALEA. 
Engraving. — Bot. Reg. t. 968. I oblong, pubescent, dotted on both sur&ces ; branches, petioles, and 
Specific Character. — Leaves pinnately trifoliate; leaflets ovate- | peduncles hairy ; rather shorter than the leaves. (G.Don,) 
Description, &c. — This very handsome plant requires protection during Yidnter, but in summer it will flower 
freely in the open ground. The whole plant is covered with a dense pubescence, and the flowers, though small, 
are of a bright blue. It is a native of Lima, whence it was introduced in 1823. 
3.— PSORALEA MACROSTAOHYA, Dec. THE LONG-SPIKED PSORALEA. 
axillary, four times longer than the leaves ; spikes cylindrical, and are, 
as well as the rachis, bracteas, and calyxes, very hairy. 
Engraving.— Bot. Reg. t. 1769. 
Specific Character. — Leaves pinnately trifoliate, pubescent ; leaf- 
lets ovate, mucronate ; petioles scabrous from glands : peduncles 
Description, &c. — A handsome species, with dark purple flowers, ripening seed abundantly. A native of 
California, introduced in 1833. It is quite hardy, but grows too luxuriantly in rich soil. 
4.— PSORALEA ORBICULARIS, Lindl. THE ROUND-LEAVED PSORALEA. 
Engraving. — Bot. Reg. t. 1971. oval. Flower head conical, peduncles very long, axillary. Bracts 
Specific Character. — Pubescent, with clavate and truncate glands oblong, concave, and, as well as the calyx, hairy. Stem creeping, 
intermixed. Leaves trifoliate, on long peduncles ; leaflets sub-rotund. 
Description, &c. — A hardy herbaceous plant, with a creeping stem, from which the flower-stalks rise about 
six inches high. It is a native of California, whence seeds were sent home by Douglas in 1833. 
GENUS VII. 
HOSACKIA, Doug. THE HOSACKIA. 
Lin. Syst. DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA. 
Generic Character. — Calyx campanulate, five-clefl ; wings about I by a capitate stigma ; legume cylindrical, or a little compressed, Btraight, 
equal in length to the vexillum ; keel beaked ; style filiform, crowned I smooth. (G. Don.) 
Description, &c. — This genus has been formed from the genus Lotus, to which it is so very nearly allied as 
scarcely to be distinguished, except by professed botanists. The name of Hosackia was given in honour of 
Dr. Hosack, Professor of Botany at New York. 
