


84 THE LADIES’ FLOWER-GARDEN 
which stands erect, and is called the vexillum or standard ; below this are two smaller petals, which are called the 
alge or wings; and below this are two petals, joined together, which form what is called the carina or keel, and 
which serve as a cradle for the stamens and pistil. There are ten stamens, nine of which are joined together, and 
have their stalks or filaments growing together half-way up their length, while the tenth stamen is left quite free 
to the base. The pistil terminates in a slender style, which has a pointed stigma. The pods differ in the 
different genera, some containing only two or three seeds, as in some of the Australian plants; and others 
containing from four to nine, or even ten, seeds, as in the common Pea. When the seeds are sown, some of the 
kinds have fleshy cotyledons or seed-leaves, and these are all fit to eat; but others will have thin cotyledons or 
seed-leaves, and these are not eatable. Almost all the plants belonging to this division that have thin cotyledons, 
require a greenhouse in this country, and they are nearly all natives of Australia. 
GENUS I. 
SOPHORA R. Brown. THE SOPHORA. 
Lin. Syst. DECANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Genrric CuaracTteR.—Calyx five-toothed, campanulate at the base, or somewhat attenuated. Petals of the keel usually concrete at the apex. 
Legume somewhat moniliform, wingless, many-seeded. (@. Don.) 
Description, &c.—All the plants belonging to this genus are trees, shrubs, or herbs, with pinnate leaves, and 
ornamental flowers, which vary in colour, being blue, yellow, purple, or white, but never red. The commonest 
species (S. japonica and S. chinensis) are hardy trees in the neighbourhood of London, though they require some 
protection in the north. The greenhouse species are both elegant shrubs with ornamental flowers. The name 
Sophora is from an Arabic word signifying a plant with papilionaceous flowers. 
1.—SOPHORA VELUTINA Lindl. THE VELVET-LEAVED SOPHORA. 
Eneravines.—Bot. Reg., t. 1185; and our jig. 1, in Pl. 21. branches, Racemes cylindrical, terminal. Petals imbricate ; standard 
Speciric Cuaracter.—Shrubby. Leaflets twenty-three, elliptic, | bifid. 
mucronate, velvety on both surfaces, as well as the peduncles and 
Description, &c.—A very handsome plant, a native of Nepal, which Dr. Lindley has classed with the genus 
Sophora, though, as he observes, he is not by any means satisfied that it is a genuine species of that genus. The 
flowers are produced in long erect racemose spikes, and they are purple, the standard being of a deeper hue than 
the other parts of the flower. The species was introduced in 1820, and as it is very nearly hardy, it is supposed that 
it might stand in the open air, at least in the neighbourhood of London, if it were grafted on a stock of Sophora 
japonica; and this would be particularly desirable, as that plant, though it has very handsome foliage, has very 
small flowers. 

2.—SOPHORA MACROCARPA Smith. THE LONG-PODDED SOPHORA. 
Encravine.—Lodd. Bot. Cab., t. 1125. elliptic-oblong, obtuse, coriaceous leaflets, which are silky beneath. 
Speciric Cuaracrer.—Arboreous. Leaves with thirteen or nineteen | Raceme short, axillary. (G Don.) 
Descriprion, &c.—A very elegant little plant, with yellow flowers, and long silky legumes. It is a native of 
Chili, where it is called Mayo. 


