LEGUMINOSJE. 
271 
8. Desmodium spirale. Spiral-podded Desmodium. 
Stem suffruticose procumbent and rooting at the 
base, afterwards ascending or scandent, branches sub- 
terete subglabrous, leaflets ovate minutely hispidu- 
lous, racemes subterminal elongated, pedicels 2 or 3 
together, legumes 4-5 -jointed hispidulous with min- 
ute hooked hairs spirally twisted. 
Hedysarmn spirale, Swartz, FI. Ind. Occ. 1273. — H. pro- 
cumbens. Mill. diet. 
HAB. Common in thickets and dry shady situations. 
FL. Towards the end of the year. 
Stem 1-4 feet in length : brandies diffuse, long, filiform, 
green, angulose, striated, subglabrous. Leaflets (the middle 
one the largest) ovate, subacute, hispidulous with minute unci- 
nate hairs, usually discoloured with a whitish spot in the 
centre : petiole striated. Stipules scariose, broad at the base, 
setaceo-mucronate at the apex : stipels minute, lanceolate. Ra- 
ceme opposite to a subterminal leaf (hence apparently terminal), 
filiform, very long. Peduncle hispidulous with minute unci- 
nate hairs: pedicels 2-3 together, half an inch in length, fur- 
nished at the insertion with about 3 subulate bracteas. Flowers 
small, greenish-white, tinged with purple. Calyx ebracteo- 
lated, minutely puberulous : upper lip minutely bidentate ; 
lower lip 3-partite, with the divisions lanceolato-subulate. 
Standard subrotund ; wings rather shorter than the keel, which 
is concave and bifid at the apex. Stamens diadelphous. Le- 
gume spirally twisted, 4-5 jointed; joints rhomboideo-obovate, 
hispidulous, with minute uncinate hairs. 
9. Desmodium scorpiurus. Hare's-foot Honey- 
suckle. 
Stem procumbent slightly hairy, stipules falcato- 
ovate acuminate, leaflets elliptic or subovato-oblong 
obtuse pubescent, racemes terminal elongated, pedi- 
cels 3-4 together, legumes of 5-7 oblong joints. 
Hedysarum triphyllum, hirsutum minus repens, Browne, 301. 
— H. scorpiurus, Swartz , FL lnd. Occ. 1268. 
HAB. Common in dry pastures and by the road-sides. 
FL. October — January. 
Stem suffrutescent, rooting near the base, 3-gonal, striated, 
slightly hairy intermixed with a minute uncinate pubescence. 
Leaflets petiolulated, elliptic, occasionally approaching to ob- 
long, at other times subobovate, rounded at the apex, pubescent, 
slightly hoary beneath. Stipules falcato-ovate, acuminate, 
ciliated. Racemes terminal, elongated, 3-5 inches in length. 
