Illustrations of Indian Botany, Vol. 1/Leguminosae
LVI.-LEGUMINOSAE.
With the exception of Composite this is the largest, in so far as the number of species is concerned, of any of the Dicotyledonous orders, and viewed in relation to its economical applications, I believe I may safely say, about the most important of the vegetable kingdom. Its species are found in every region from the Polar zones to the Equinox, flourishing equally amidst the snows of Lapland and Siberia, and exposed to the scorching heats of the tropies; floating in water, and on the most and arid plains of Asia and Africa. Its forms include almost every variety met with among Dicotyledonous plants, the most lowly herbs, and most stately trees, with all their intermediate gradations, being alike members of it. The foliage is equally variable, the leaves being either partially wanting, and their place supplied by enlarged stipules, or by dilated foot stalks; or they are simple, or present almost every variety of combination of those called compound, from the most simple combination of 2 leaflets half adhering together as in Bauhinia, up to the complexity of the form designated tripinnate. Turning from the foliage to the flowers we equally find almost every variety, regular and irregular, perfect and imperfect : bi or unisexual, petals absent or present: distinct, or united, regular and equal, or unequal and irregular, forming what is respectively called Rosacious and Papilionaceous corollas. The stamens in like manner are few or many, distinct or united into one or several bundles, the filaments usually all antheriferous, but sometimes part only bearing anthers. The female portion of the flower presents fewer irregularities, the ovary, with one or two, very rare exceptions, being 1 -celled, that is composed of a single carpillary leaf, not of several as in most other Dicotyledonous plants. The fruit or legume however is most variable, and on that account affords excellent generic characters, being either one or many-seeded.
compressed or inflated ; linear or variously contracted between the seed ; continuous or jointed ; dehiscent or indehiscent ; membranous or woody; longitudinally one or 2-celled, or divided by transverse partitions, transversely many-celled ; with or without enclosed pulp surrounding the seed. The seed like all other parts exhibit the same want of uniformity, they are either naked or imbedded in pulp, or sometimes furnished with an arillus or large carunculus ; the embryo is either straight or curved along the edge of the cotyledons; the cotyledons are either thin and foliaceous or thick and fleshy, usually without, but occasionally furnished with a copious albumen as in Filla j a, and the section Cathartocarpus of Cassia. The only points on which they seem all to agree is in having the odd ssgments of the calyx anterior or remote from the axis. This is the only mark by which this order can always be distinguished from Rosacece, the fruit even, not being always leguminous, in one genus, Detarium, it is drupaceous.
If from Botanical, or structural peculiarities, we turn to properties we find similar varia- tions. Among the arboreous forms the wood in some is of hardest and most durable description, witness some of the Dalbergias and Acacias, in others the very reverse is the case, as in Erythrina and Agati. Nearly the whole of the tribe Papilionacece afford edible nutritious grains, (beans, pease, in one word, pulse of all kinds) while the Cassias or Ccesalpineas are distin- guished by the possession of both purgative and astringent properties, the leaves of Senna for example and the pulp which surrounds the seed of Cassia Jistula being powerful purgatives, while the bark of C. auriculata is in constant use for tanning. Some of the Mimosas yield by boiling a powerfully astringent extract (catchu) while others, abound in the purest of gum, endowed with simply emolient or mucilaginous properties: gum arabic, gum tragacanth, and gum kino, though differing so widely from each other in their properties are all the produce of this order. From a species of Alhagi a kind of Manna is procured, while the leaves of Agati grandiflora, are bitter and tonic.
Such are a few of the anomalies and contradictions presented by this order, enough I presume to show the difficulty or rather impossibility of defining satisfactorily so polymor- phous a tribe, and the necessity that exists, towards attaining a clear understanding of the whole, that its parts be considered in succession as if each formed a distinct order. This is the method followed by Bartling, who, adopting the divisions first marked out by Brown and extended by DeCandolle, has merely departed from their arrangement, in raising the suborders of these eminent Botanists to the rank of orders, perhaps an unnecessary innovation, but one which 1 intend partially to follow here, as enabling me to give a clearer exposition of the whole, and in less space, than if I attempted it in the mass. Before however proceeding to characterise in detad the suborders referable to the Indian flora I shall extract from. DeCandolle's Prodromus, a table, (see below) presenting at one view, a clear and comprehen-
fiKBORDlNES,
f Papilionacece. Calycis lobi distincti.
Stamina perigyna. Corolla papilionacea.
Phyllolobae
seu
cstyledonibus folia- ceis.
I. Sophoee^;.
Leg uminosje.
CtlRVEMBRIjE,
nempe A
embryonis radicula
super loborum com- missuram infiexa, seu Pleuroihizea;.
Sarcolobae sseu
cotyledonibus crasso-carnosis.
Rectembri/E, nempe I embryonis radicula '. recta,
Swi RTZIEjE.
Calycis vesicaeformis aut petalis pautis 1
MiMOSEjE.
( Sepala et petala ante
J CesalpiNe^e. j Petala per aestivatio- ! nem imbricata, sta- (. minaque perigyna.
TRIBUS.
Legumen continuum. Stamina libera. ......
Legumen continuum. Stamina filamentis
-( concreta .... II. LoTEiE.
j Legumen transverse ar- I ticulatum Stamina | fere semper inter se ( filamentis concreta. . III. HedysarEjE. [ Legumen polyspermum dehiscens. Folia cir- rbosa , primordialia
alterna IV. Vicie.e.
Legumen polyspermum dehiscens. Folia non cin hosa , primordia- lia opposita V. Phaseole^.
Legumen l-2-spetmum indebiscens. Folia (. non cirrhosa VI. Dalbergie^e.
lobi indistincti. Stamina hypogyna. Corolla 0
2 ". VII. Swartzieje
VIII. Mimose.iE.
explicationem valvata Stamina hypogyna. ( Sepala et petala per C Stamina filamentis varie I aestivationem im- -s connexa IX.
-{ bricata. ( Stamina libera X.
j Sepala ante explicationem iudistincta. Calyx
( vesicffiformis. Petala 0... XI. Detarie^,
Geoffrey. Cassie<e. sive arrangement of the whole order, showing its several suborders and tribes as developed in detail in his Memoirs and Prodromus. This distribution, has hitherto been adopted by all suc- ceeding Botanists, but now I believe, in course of being somewhat modified by Mr. Bentham, (Labiatarum genera et species auclor) who lately published a Memoir entitled « Commentationes de Leguminosarum generebus" embracing however only a small portion of this vast family, but which, he informs me, is but the precursor of a complete revision of the whole order, similar to his work on the Labiatse, a work, pronounced by universal consent a model of perfection in Botanical literature. Leaving for the present his views, not yet sufficiently developed to be touched upon here, I shall proceed to explain, as briefly as possible, the arrangement of DeCandolle which we have adopted in our Prodromus, after a few brief remarks on the affinities of the order, as a whole.
Affinities. Papilionaceous flowers and leguminous fruit will always mark any plant hav- ing them as a member of this order, many cases however occur where one or other of these marks are wanting, and some where both are absent, rendering it most difficult to distinguish by written characters this order from the section Amygdaleae, of Romceae. The Mimoseae have all regular flowers but at the same time bear leguminous fruit. The Caesalpineae have flowers which nearly approach the regular rosaceous forms ; but they also have leguminous fruit. Hence no difficulty is there experienced but the Detariums are apetalous with a four lobed calyx and have drupaceous fruit. " Simple therefore as the diagnosis of the order usually is, Brown is perfectly correct in asserting that until he indicated the difference of the position of the odd lobe of the calyx in Leguminosae and Rosaceae, (§ Amygdaleae) no positive character had been discovered to distinguish the one from the other." And even this character in many cases can only be made out theoretically, since nothing is more common than the union of the two upper sepals leaving a4-lobed calyx or one without any odd sepal, but then, the upper one in these cases is much larger than the opposed sepal. The drupaceous fruit in Detarium a leguminous genus, is thus explained by Dr. Lindley. " Detarium instead of a legume bears a fruit not distinguishable from a drupe. This last circumstance is easily to be understood if we bear in mind that a legume and a drupe differ more in name than in reality, the latter being formed on precisely the same plan as the former but with this modification, that its perecarp is thickened, more or less fleshy on the outside and stony on the inside, 1 -seeded and indehiscent." The following remarks which I extract from Lindley's Natural System of Botany, merit careful consideration.
" In many respects this order is one of the most important which the Botanist can study, but especially as it serves to show how little real importance ought to be attached to dehiscence of fruit in determining the limits of natural orders. What may be called the normal fruit of Leguminosae is a legume, that is to say, a dry simple ovary, with a suture running along both its margins, so that at maturity it separates through the middle of each suture into two valves ; but every conceivable degree of deviation from this type occurs : the Arackis and many more are indehiscent ; Detarium is drupaceous ; in Carmichaelia the valves separate from the suture, which remains entire, like the replum of Cruciferae ; in all lomentaceous genera, such as Orni- thopus, the valves are indehiscent in the line of the suture, but separate transversely ; in Entada a combination of the peculiarities of Carmichaelia and Lomentaceae occurs ; and, finally, in Haematoxylon the valves adhere by the suture and split along the axis. The divi- sions which have been proposed in this extensive order are of unequal value ; it is possible that two of them, namely, Mimoseae and Caesalpinieae may deserve, as Brown seems to think, the rank of suborders ; for they really appear to be of the same importance with reference to Papilionaceae, as Amyridaceae, Connaraceae, Anacardiaceae, and Burseraceae, with respect to each other."
DeCandolle divides the order into two principal sections, those namely in which the ra- dicle is curved back on the commisure or margin of the cotyledons, Curvembryce (Plates 78-79-81-82-84) and those in which the radicle is straight, Rectembryce (Plates 80 and 82).
Cukvembryje are again divided into two suborders Papilionacece and Swartziece.
The Papilionacece are again divided into two sections, one distinguished by having thin almost foliaceous cotyledons, Phyllolobece : the other by having them thick and fleshy Sarco- lobece. To the former of these subsections belong the tribes Sophorece, Lotece and Hedysarece, to the latter Vicieae, Phasioleae, and Dalbergieae. The suborder Sivartzieae, being altogether of American origin are not noticed here. The Rectembryce are in like manner divided into two suborders Mimoseae and Caesalpineae. The former of these form a single tribe, Mimoseae the latter, is divided into three tribes, namely, Geoffreae, Cassieae and Detarieae. One species only of the first of these tribes is found in India, (the earth nut Arachis hypogea) and the third is altogether unknown here.
After this explanation I presume there can be no difficulty in understanding the table, which I prefer giving in the original Latin, after adding with, reference to the characters of the tribes, that "folia cirrhosa" alludes to the tendrils with which the leaves of many, the common garden pea for example, are furnished, and "folia primordea" to the first pair of leaves above the seed lobes, not to the seed lobes themselves, which might sometimes be mistaken for primordeal leaves in the Phyllolobeae tribes, as they ascend during germination and expand into leaf-like bodies. The cotyledons of Sarcolobeae rarely ascend in germination, and then can scarcely be mistaken for leaves owing to their thickness. It is to this section alone that characters taken from this organ are required, and even here, viewed as a means of assisting in the discrimination of genera, seem to be of little use, though, in a physiological point of view the peculiarity of alternate primordial leaves seems curious, as being confined to that tribe having tendril bearing leaves.
We now proceed to consider in succession the several suborders — commencing with the principal, both as to its extent and importance to mankind, namely.
Suborder—Papilionaceæ.
This large suborder, which is scattered in greater or less profusion over every part of the known world, is composed of herbaceous plants, shrubs and trees. The leaves are usually alternate, unequally pinnate, or if abruptly pinnate, the rachis frequently terminating in a tendril in place of the odd leaflet, or they are digitate, or ternate or simple, from the abortion of the lateral leaflets, and occasionally though rarely, the leaf itself is altogether abortive and changed into a tendril, the large stipules then performing its functions, as in Lathyrus aphaca. Stipules lateral. Flowers bisexual, or, occasionally by abortion, unisexual, racemose, spiked, capitate, or panicled, pedicels bi-bracteolate. Calyx free, 5-cleft, lobes usually unequal, the two superior ones often cohering into an upper lip, the three inferior ones more or less united, forming the lower one. Torus expanded into a lamina covering the bottom of the calyx. Petals 5, very unequal, alternate, with lobes of the calyx unguiculate — the upper one, (vixillum) larger and overlapping (he others in aestivation: the lateral ones (alae) usually unequal sided, the two lower ones often cohering nearly their whole length into one boat-shaped petal with a double claw, (carina) but sometimes altogether distinct. Stamens inserted with the petals, double their number, rarely all free, often all united into a tube surrounding the ovary, or, with 9 co- hering, and the upper one, that next the axis, free, hence diadelphous (nine and one 91 ) the more usual form : but sometimes they are equally diadelphous 55, rarely tri-adelphous : the filaments distinct and subulate at the apex, anthers erect, 2-celled, sometimes by abortion 1-celled, ovary solitary, free, opposite the inferior lobe of the calyx, one or many-ovuled, ovules attached to the posterior suture, style one, stigma simple. Fruit, a legume, longitudinally 2-valved, 1-celled, or spuriously 2 celled, sometimes with contractions between the seed, or with trans- verse divisions separating at maturely into so many 1 -seeded indehiscent cells, forming what is called a 'lomentum' (see plate 79). Perecarp usually double, fleshy externally, interiorly membranaceous or parchment-like. Seeds definite or indefinite, superposed, attached alternately to the valves, sometimes with a large carunculus or imperfect arillus, the hilum marginal some- times elongated. Cotyledons thin and foliaceous, ascending above the soil during germination, or thick and fleshy remaining below.
§ I. Curvembryæ—Radicle of the embryo bent back on the edge of the cotyledons.
Phyllolobeæ—Cotyledons foliaceous.
Tribe 1. Sophoreæ—Stamens distinct. Legume not jointed, frequently contracted between the seed. Cotyledons foliaceous during germination, suffruticose, or shrubby, rarely trees : leaves simple, ternate, or pinnate.
The Indian flora presents but few examples of this tribe Sophora, Vigilia, and Edwardia, (which I have recently found on the Balaghaut mountains) being the only ones known in the Peninsula. I do not find any useful properties assigned to the plants of this tribe.
Tribe 2. Lote^e — Stamens either all united, (monadelphous) or nine united and one free (diadelphous). Legume not jointed, 1 -celled, or rarely imperfectly 2-celled, from one suture be- ing intro flexed, sometimes with transverse septa. Cotyledons, flat tish , foliaceous in germination.
This which is a large tribe, is divided into several subtribes — Genisteae, Trifolieae, Clitorieae, Galegiae and Astragaieae — species of each of these, except the last, occur in the Peninsula.
In this tribe we find many useful plants. In India the- bark of some species of Crotalaria, (C. retusa and juncea) are employed as hemp in the manufacture of cordage and canvas. The powdered seed of Fenugreek (Trigonella Fcsiwn-grecuin) is very largely consumed in native cookery. The vegetable principle called Coumarin is found abundantly iu the flowers of Melitotus officinalis, it is that principle to which the Tonka bean owes its properties. The young beans of Cyamopsis p$ jratiodes (Cott averaykay Tarn) is with reason much prized by the natives as a culin-iry pulse, ai 1 merits more attention from Europeans, as it is a pleasant and delicate vegetable. I(idig)fera ttnetoria and anil furnish us with the valuable blue dye (Indigo) of such vast commercial importance to India. The roots of Clitoria ternatea are emetic. The roots of Tep'irosia purpurea, a most common plant, are bitter, and a decoction of them is prescribed by native practitioners in Dyspeptic complaints — many other species of this large Indian genus probably possess similar properties in even a higher degree. The leaves of Sesbania Mgypiiaca are in constant use among the natives as a poultice to promote supuration, and the wood makes excellent charcoal for the manufacture of gun-powder. The long slender pods of Agate grandijlora are eaten by the natives and the leaves are also prized by them. The tree grows rapidly but the wood is very soft and of little use. In addition to these, most of which are of Indian origin, many other plants of this tribe are in use in other countries, such as the numerous kinds of clover, lucern, &c. for fodder, and liquorice, laburnum, genesta, &c. as medicine and food.
Tribe 3. HfdysakKjE — Corolla papilionacious : Stamina either monadelphous or diadelphous (9-1 or sometimes 5-5) rarely all distinct, often somewhat persistent. Legume transversely divided into several 1-seeded cells or joints, sometimes 1 celled, and then always 1-seeded, cotyledons flattish, during germination somewhat foliaceous. The several-seeded genera are usually easily distinguished by their jointed pods separating at the joints into 1-seeded indehiscent cells: the one seeded ones, are not so easily distinguished, but they usually have the stamen tube more or less persistent.
This, as compared with the last, is a small tribe, containing fewer genera and those of the Indian flora, with the exception of D '.Imodium, have but few species, neither are they important in their economical applications. The root of Pueraria tuberosa (which though placed by D.C. and others among Lotice really belongs to this tribe) peeled and bruised, is employed by the natives of the Circars as a poultice to reduce swellings of the joints : that of Ormacarpum sennoiden is stimulant and tonic. Manna is said to be produced by Alhigi Murorum and several allied species in Persia and Bonkra, but, though the plant is found in Egypt, Arabia, and India, it does not yield this substance, whence it is inferred, the former countries only are suited for its production. Few of the other species are esteemed of much value, Saintfoi?i (Onobrychis sativa) affords an excellent fodder and is much cultivated in different parts of Europe on that account.
Sarcolobe^e— Cotyledons thick and fleshy.
Tribe 4. Vicie^e — Corolla papilionacious. Stamens diadelphous (9 and 1.) Legume continuous not jointed. Cotyledons thick, farinaceous, unchanged during germination and remaining under ground within the seel coat; radicle inflexed : leaves abruptly pinnated, except Cicer and som v species of Orobuft ; the common petiol not jointed at the base with the stem, produced at the apex, except, in the above instances and one or two others ; into a bristle or tendril. Primordial leaves alternate.
This, though in respect of the number of its genera, a very small tribe yet contains some very useful plants. Among the most valuable of these may be mentioned the common pea (Pisum sativum) the bean ( Faba vulgaris ) the tare or horse pea ( Ficia sativa J the chick [ ea, Bsngalor Chinna gram of this country, ( Cicer arietinmn J and the lintel Eevum lens, all of them being extensively employed as food for both man and cat lie. The seed of some other species are considered poisonous, the seed of the bitter vetch ( Ervum ervillia, D.C J when mixed with flour and made into bread are said to produce weakness of the limbs, and horses fed on them become almost paralytic. The ripe seeds of the yellow vetchling ( Lathyrus aphaca J are narcotic, producing intense headache if eaten abundantly, but when young like green peas, are harmless. The leaves of Cicer arietinmn secrete an acid which the natives of India collect by spreading a cloth over-night on the plant and wringing out the dew in the morning. They then use it as vinegar, or for forming a cooling drink.
Tribe 5. Phaskolk^— Corolla papilionacious. Stamens monadelphous or more usually diadelphous (9 and 1.) Legume several seeded, dehiscent, continuous, often with cellular rarely with coriaceous transverse partitions between the seed, not separating into joints. Radi- cle bent along the edge of the cotyledons. Cotyledons thick, unchanged by germination. Leaves usually trifoliolate, very rarely abruptly pinnated : primordial ones opposite.
This is a large tribe abounding in genera, many of which are extensively used as food, but more especially Phaseolus, Dolichos and Lablab (the old Dolichos lablab). Besides these many others are employed either for food or medicine and a few in the arts. The roots of the Coon- doomunny Abras precatorius a common plant in this country, the beautiful black tipped bright red seeds of which are so generally admired, are sweet, resembling liquorice, for which they are used as a substitute, and an infusion of them prescribed as a diluent drink. The seed are in ge- neral use by native jewellers as a weight, and almost uniformly weigh exactly one grain troy. The young legumes as well as the seed of many species of Phaseolus or kidney bean are used as culinary vegetables ; among these are the French bean, the Haricot, our Duffin bean, ( Phaseolus lu- natu» J as fodder, those of P. aeon itif alius, P. trilobus and radiatus, are cultivated by the natives: the pease are used by them as food, and also given to their Cattle as gram, the last of these, and I believe P. mungo are indiscriminately used under the English name of " green-gram :" several species of Dolichos are also in use, but the best known of these is the common horse-gram or coultie ( D. unijlorus J so extensively cultivated in this country.
Lablab vulgaris or avaraykai {Dolichos lablab, Lin. and Ainslie) is a very valuable pulse, and very generally much esteemed by all classes of natives who eat it, when young, pod and all as we do French beans, and when more advanced the beans ordy. In Mysore it is very extensively cul- tivated, fields on fields being seen covered with it towards the end of the year. The curiously- winged pods of Psophocarpus (Dolichos) fetragonolobui or Goa bean, (as it is called here) also afford a pass- able vegetable, so does the Sabre bean ( Canavalia gladiata J the pods of which are sometimes 18 inches long. Mucuna pruriens and M. prurita both afford the well known Cowitch formerly not unfrequently used as an anthelmintic, another nearly allied species, the pods of which are unarmed with the stinging pickles of the last, and of the genus generally, is cultivated to a great extent in the Mauritius and Van Deman's land as a table vegetable, and also as fodder for cattle under the name of Pois noire or black bean. The pigeon pea or Doll ( Cajanus indicus or Cytisus cajan J is very generally cultivated as a pulse in this country, and is highly esteemed by the natives. These are all herbaceous annuals or biennials ; but the beautiful flowered Erythrina indica, so conspicuous on account of its bright scarlet flowers, attains the size of a large tree, the light and soft wood of which is well known under the name of Mootchee wood, from being so much used by these toy makers, it is also generally used for constructing Catamarans, and the tree itself is employed as a prop for pepper vines.
Tribe 7. Dalbergie^e — Stamens variously combined. Legume one or several seeded, indehiscent. Cotyledons fleshy. Trees or shrubs, often twining. Leaves unequally pinnated, rarely trifoliolate, or reduced to a solitary leaflet.
In its properties this tribe is very different from the preceding. Here we find some of the largest trees, possessing wood of the hardest and most durable description, while others again, of the same genera, are twining shrubs, some of them most ornamental on account of the endless profusion of their beautiful white flowers, which contrast very favourably with their dark green foliage : among the most ornamental perhaps of the whole are the splendid Buteas — B. frondosa and super ba, further remarkable for producing a gum corresponding in its appearance and properties with kino. The seed of the former is much esteemed by the native practioners as an anthelmintic An infusion of the flowers of both these species dye cotton, previously prepared with alum, a bright yellow, which may be changed by an alkali into a deep redish orange. The lac insect is often found on its young branches. The Punga tree (Ponoamia or Dalberoia arboreaj is one of the most ornamental trees that grows, and the seed possess the rare property, in this family, of yielding to expression a fine fixed oil, to which the natives attribute valuable medicinal properties as an external application in irruptive diseases. The wood is white and appears close grained and firm, but is not so far as I am aware much esteemed by the joiner. Roxburgh however says it serves for a variety of economical purposes, The branches like those of many other Indian trees strike root readily when stuck in the ground, and cattle are fond of brousing on the leaves, hence it might be usefully employed as fodder.
The bark and flowers of our Milletia piscidia, (Galedupa piscidia, Roxb.) have the property , when powdered and thrown into water, of poisoning fish. Dalbergia sissoo affords a timber " tolerably light, and remarkably strong, but unfortunately not so durable as could be wished. It answers well for various economical purposes; the color is a light grayish brown, with darker coloured veins. Upon the whole I scarcely know any other tree that deserves more attention, for, when its rapid growth in almost every soil, its beauty, and uses are taken into account, few trees can be compared with it" — Roxb. D. lalifolia yields the much admired black wood so universally employed for making furniture. Roxburgh observes " on the Malabar coast this tree must grow to an immense size, as I have seen planks from thence full three feet and a half broad, and if we allow nine inches of white wood to have been on the outside of these trees the circumference must have been 15 feet exclusive of the bark." This is the Sit-sal of Bengal, but is not so heavy there as that on the Coast of Coromandel and Malabar. Some other species of this genus afford good timber. The only genus of this tribe that remains to be mentioned in this hasty review is Pterocarpus, that from which kino and the red Sandal or Saunders wood is derived. The species are all trees of considerable magnitude, and those I have seen of great beauty. From wounds in the bark of P. Marsupiwn, Roxburgh observes " there issues a red juice which hardens in the open air into a dark red, very brittle "gummy resin, on being powdered it changes to a light brown not unlike powdered Peruvian bark. In the mouth it melts away like simple gum. Its taste is strongly but simply astringent as much so I think as that of the gum of the Butea, which it much resembles." It strikes a dark colour with a chalybeate. " The specimen of gum kino in the Banksean herbarium is perfectly like this. It is probable these are the same or very nearly allied" Roxb. From the P. Santalinus the red Sandalwood, a timber, chiefly employed by the dyers and colour manufactures, of the present day is obtained.
I have not myself heard of the timber of these trees being much used, and Roxburgh does not mention that of any except P. dalbergioides, which he says grows to an immense size, havinc seen planks 4 feet broad of coloured wood, exclusive of the outside white wood. He says it is not unlike Mahogany but rather redder, heavier, and coarser, in grain " that of the root is most beautifully variegated, [ may say marbled, closer grained, and darker coloured." Ainslie states that Vayngie wood P. bilobus or Marsupium, (thev are the same tree) is reckoned by the natives very useful " it is of a redish colour and is employed in making doors and windows, and for other common purposes." From the meagreness of these notices it would appsar the wood of most of them is not much esteemed or is imperfectly known. With these brief remarks I close my account of this sub-order, but I trust enough has been said to show its im- portance though not to give an adequate idea of its value to mankind.
Sub-order Cesalpineae.
This sub-order consists for the most part of trees and shrubs, rarely herbaceous plants. Leaves abruptly pinnate, bi-pinnate or unequally pinnate, rarely simple or bifid, that is, composed of 2 leaflets united towards the base ; often furnished with peltate glands on the rachis : stipule, free or adnate to the petiol, sometimes armed. Flowers usually bisexual, sometimes unisexuas irregular, for the most part racemose, large and handsome ; the pedicels often furnished with bracteoles.
Calyx free, generally 5-eleft, imbricated in sestivation. Torus expanded, adnate to the cup of the calyx, terminating in a per,igynous ring. Corolla more or less irregular, sometimes papilionaceous, more frequently the petals are free, expanding, or somewhat rosaceous, occasionally wanting, aestivation irregularly imbricalive. Stamens more or less unequal, always perigynous j filaments rarely united Ovary solitary, with several ovules. Legumes I , or several, seeaed, dehiscent, or rarely indehiscent, often transversely divided by cellular partitions, more rarely, by firm chartaceous laminse ( Cathartocarpus. J Seed usually compressed, sometimes horizon- tal, that is, with the edges not the sides of the cotyledons opposed to the valves, sometimes covered with pulp. Albumen usually wanting, but. in Cathartocarpus copious, enclosing folia- ceous cotyledons. Embryo straight, cotyledons usually large, plumule conspicuous.
Though for convenience, I have adopted this as a sub-order ; it seems clear, from the com- plexity of structure observable among its genera, that it can scarcely as it now stands be admit- ted as such, since the only constant point of difference between it and Papilionaceae rests in its straight not curved embryo. The indehiscent cylindrical legumes, firm transverse partitions, and albuminous seed of the first section of Cassia ( Cathartocarpus J point that out as a good genus, though it is to be wished it had a more euphonious name. This sub-order is divided into three tribes Geoffreae, Cassieae and Detarieae.
Tribe 8. Gkoffke^e — Corolla papilionaceous or nearly so, stamens monadelphous or dia- delphous, perigynous.
To this tribe only one Indian genus belongs, namely, Amchis, which, with the exception of the straight embryo has scarcely any affinity with it, being more properly referable to Vicieae. It is remarkable for maturing its seed under ground. At first the ovary is supported on a short stalk which afterwards elongates to several inches, in a downward direction, until it forces the ovary into the soil where it remains an 1 ripens its seed. The plant is much cultivated on account of its seed, which, under the name of ground, or pig, nuts are roasted and eat like cushew-nuts which they much resemble in taste. They are besides oleagenous a rare occurrence in this order.
Cassieae. — Stamens distinct, or rarely monadelphous at the base (and then the corolla though not papilionaceous is irregular,)
To this tribe belong many very handsome trees and shrubs, some very useful ones, and many more that can scarcely he said to partake of either character. A few examples must suffice to illustrate the two first classes — which however I take indiscriminately without attempt- ing to classify them.
Guilandina Bonaluc or Bondnccella., they are the same plant, is a handsome diffuse shrub armed with numerous prickles, forming an impenetrable fence. The globular very hard. Seed are intensely bitter and esteemed a powerful tonic. The infusion of them is said to be a very effectual remedy in cases of intermittent fever, and as such, has been recommended along with the extract, of Cocculus cordifolius as a substitute for Peruvian hark, and as an excellent adjuvant in cases where the cinchona does not agree with the stomach. Caesalpinea Sapan, the red wood of commerce, is extensively exported from this country as a dye wood. Hcema- toxylon Campechianum, the logwood of commerce, is employed for similar purposes, and in habit the two trees are considerably alike. Poinciana is a genus much more remarkable for the splendour and beauty of its flowers than for any useful purpose to which it is turned. The gaudy princes feather or peacock's pride of this country (Poinciana pulcheriena) is everywhere met with, P. elatior with white flowers is, though less known, a finer plant, the tree itself being a very handsome one. Sir W. J. Hooker has figured in the Botanical Magazine one from Madagascar P. regia, more remarkable than either for the splendour of its flowers. Ptero- lobium lacerans a common jungle shrub of this country is curious on account of its legume, which is 1 -seeded, ending in a knife-shaped wing. It is a most thorny plant, well adapted for fences, but rather diffuse — Parkinsonia, Hard/rickin, Jonesia, and Humbnldtia, are all fine plants, but principally interesting on account of the celebrated persons whose names they bear. The Tamarind (Tamarindus indica) on the other hand, is most useful both on account of the value of its wood and fruit, hut on these it is unnecessary to dwell. I may however mention what is less generally known, that tamarind stones, reduced to fine powder and made into a thick paste with water, has the property, when merely smeared on the skin, of rapidly promoting suppuration in indolent, or what are called hlind, boils. The same powder boiled into a paste with thin glue forms one of the strongest wood cements. Cassia is a very large genus con- taining so-.re most useful plants, but generally its species are of little value under any point of view. The section Cathartocarpus all the species of which are trees and of great beauty, ought in my opinion to constitute a distinct genus as proposed by both Willdenow and Persoon, but reunited by DeCandolle. The flowers sufficiently correspond with those of the rest of the genus, but the cylindrical indehiscent legumes with hard transverse partitions and albuminous ! seed enveloped in pulp ( for such they certainly are in C. fistula, C. Roxburghii, C. bacillus Roxb. also in C. rhombifolia, Roxb. (if distinct from C. fistula) all tend to their separation from the rest of the genus, and I cannot help remarking that were genera generally separated from each other by equally sufficient marks, we should have little reason to complain of excessive multincation of them which is not always the case now. The sweet pulp which envelopes the seed of C. fistula, is a powerful but mild aperient, a small quantity producing the effect, it further possesses the property of colouring the urine of a deep brown colour, a fact, of which patients requiring to use it habitually, ought to be warned, as I have known such refuse to take it, on the supposition that it had a tendency to heat the system and excite a bilious habit, even when doing them much good. To what extent the other species enjoy this property I am unable to say, in C. rhombifolia Roxb. the pulp is bitter. None of the species of true Cassia, have equally pulpy legumes, hence it is not to be expected that they should possess similar virtues, but cathartic properties of great energy are found in the leaves of several, more especially of those belonging to the section Senna, all of which are readily distinguished by their very compressed falcate legumes. Of these, the Cassia (Senna) lanceolata and C. elongata are the most important, several millions of pounds weight of the dried leaves being annually consumed in Europe, exclusive of what is used in this and their native countries Egypt and Arabia. C. obtusa a procumbent plant common in this country is used by the natives for similar purposes. Dr. Lindley considers the C. lanceolata of Royle's Illustrations and of our Prodromus, which are the same plant, distinct from the true C. lanceolata of Forskahl and names it C. elongata. He remarks of it, " the dried leaves form the finest Senna of commerce known by the name of Tinnevelly Senna" under " C. lanceolata Forsk" he describes a species differing from ours in having a sessile gland above the base of the petiol, and pods, linear, villous, compressed, incurved : to this species he appends the following note.
"As this sheet was about to be printed off I was so fortunate as to meet with the C. lanceolata of Forskahl, in a collection of Arabian plants (No. 71) collected by Dr. S. Fischer, in palm grounds in the valley of Fatme, flowering at the end of February. The leaflets are in 4 or 5 pairs, never more ; oblong, and either acute or obtuse, not at all ovate or lanceolate, and perfectly free from downiness even when young ; the petiols have constantly a small round brown gland a little above the base. The pods are erect, oblong, tapering to the base, obtuse, turgid, mucronate, rather falcate, especially when young, at which time they are sparingly covered with coarse scattered hairs. The species is therefore quite distinct from C. elongata, as I at first supposed; and consequently, excellent as the Tinnevelly Senna is, a sort of still finer quality may be expected from India, as soon as this, the true Senna of Mecca shall have been introduced into the Peninsula."
A variety of other species of this genus are recorded as possessing medical or other useful properties, but of these I shall only mention C. auriculata, the bark of which is constantly used for tanning and C. sophora and C. alata, the latter much cultivated in gardens in this country as an ornamental plant, the juice of the leaves of both of which is considered a sovereign remedy against ringworm and other similar herpetic eruptions,* a virtue which I am much disposed to doubt. Cassia alata is easily known by its pods being apparently nearly square through the valves winged on the back.
- I ma} 7 here mention that the leaves of the Margosa tree Azadiraclda indlca, which in native practice have
been long used as a remedy against pustular eruptions, have recently been tried to a great extent by a medical officer, and found a most efficient application. He reduces the leaves to a pulp by beating them in a mortar, they are then fit, for use. Applied in (his form he says they act like a charm in removing the most intractable forms of Psora and other pustular eruptions. The genus Cynometra affords the fruit known and much esteemed in the eastern Islands under the name of Nam-nam ( C. cauliflora ) but which is scarcely known in this country, where, though described as a native plant, I suspect it is introduced. It is growing in the spice gardens of Courtallum but I have never met with it wild. Those I saw are introduced. C. ramiflora is certainly a native of Ceylon, from which I have been favoured with fine specimens by Colonel Walker, it seems equally a native of Malabar as it is figured by Rheede.
The last genus of this sub-order to which I shall allude is Bauhinia, a genus named in honor of the brothers John and Caspar Bauhin, two celebrated Botanists of the last century, and considered by Linnaeus most appropriately dedicated to them on account of the two lobed leaves or more properly two twin leaflets of a compound leaf, partially united, giving them the appearance of a simple two cleft leaf.
This genus abounds in species, many of them very handsome small trees or large shrubs, eome are scandent. B. malabarica grows to sufficient size to be used as timber tree in Malabar. B. racemosa ( parvaflora Roxb.) a rather common shrub or small tree in India, yields a thick bark of which matchlock-men make their matches. " It burns long and slowly without the help of saltpetre or any other combustible. To prepare the bark it is boiled, dried and beat. Ropes are also made of the inner rind which is fibrous, strong and durable Roxb.)" B. FahUi,^. and A. ( B. racetnosa, Vahl. and Roxb. not Lam.) is one of the largest species of the genus, " the largest and most extensive creeper I have ever seen" Roxb. — a native of alpine districts.
The leaves are often a foot each way and in the northern districts of the Circars are collected in quantities great and sold in the bazaars for various purposes, plates, package, &c. The seeds are eaten raw, when ripe the taste is like that of cashew-nuts. B. anguina is another extensive creeper remarkable for having its stem and branches compressed, that is several inches broad and not half an inch thick, it is believed by the natives of Silhet to be a charm against snakes and other venomous reptiles.
Here I conclude my very imperfect sketch of this sub-order remarkable for containing many both valuable and curious plants.
Sub-order Mimoseae.
This is a large sub-order, consisting principally of tropical plants, or, with very few excep- tions, confined to the warmer regions on either side the tropics.
The species are either trees, shrubs or herbaceous plants, the former often armed with spines or prickles. The leaves are alternate, abruptly pinnate, or bi or tri- pinnate, the pinna? and leaflets opposite, often remarkably sensitive, shrinking from the slightest touch. Petiols often glanduliferous, sometimes becoming dilated and foliaseous on the abortion of the leaflets.
Flowers regular or nearly so, often polygamous, rarely all bi-sexual ; sepals 4 5, equal, often combined into a 4 5 toothed calyx : aestivation valvular or very rarely imbricative. Petals 4-5, equal, usually hypogynous, rarely inserted into the bottom of the calyx, sometimes distinct, sometimes all more or less united : aestivation valvular or rarely imbricative. Stamens inserted with the petals, distinct or monadelphous, as many, or several times as many as the petals. Embryo straight, the radicle never being bent along the lobes of the cotyledons : cotyledons usually foliaceous, very rarely enclosed in albumen. Podosperin usually flexuose or twisted.
This sub-order is very distinct from the two preceding ones, especially in the character of its flowers, which are here regular, usually approaching lo tubular, with valvate aestivation and generally hypogynous stamens. The legumes are very various in their forms, and afford excellent generic characters. In Entada and Mimosa, they are jointed or separate transversely as in the Hedysareae, in lnga and Adenanthera they are long and often remarkably contorted towards maturity, the want of which character, combined with its very thick hard woody valves, renders questionable the propriety of referring /. Xi/locarpa to that genus. The legumes of Acacia are sufficiently various to afford good specific characters, in most they are linear and much compressed but in A. arabica, they are remarkably contracted between the seed. A large proportion of the species of this order are arboreous, but others are minute herbs, and one Indian species (Desmanthus natans) is almost constantly found floating on water, as its name implies, or growing on the muddy banks of tanks or ditches. Considerable variety is also observed in the character of its products. The wood of most of the arboreous species of Jicacia is exceeding hard, close grained and heavy, while that of Parkia bia< 'anduiosa is comparatively soft and coarse grained. That of Acacia spec'iom is so intensely hard that it is with difficulty it can be cut with the handsaw. The wood of many is dark brown or nearly black in the centre. Many of the species yield very pure gum, from Acacia vera and Arabica, the finest gum arabic is procured. The bark of others is strongly astringent, some of them yielding the Catechu extract, among these may be mentioned A. fer- rugenea, A. catechu, and A. leticocephafa. From the hark of all of these, fermented with jaggery, an inferior kind of arrack is procured by distillation ; they migfht all be more usefully employed in tanning leather. The bark of one New Holland species A. melanoxylon is imported into England in considerable quantities for that purpose. Of this bark in 1S31, there was 39 264 cwt. shipped from Mob art Town for England, and in 1835, the value of bark exported from the same place, was nearly £12,000. This subject therefore seems to merit attention in this country where so many species of the genus, having astringent bark, are indigenous. The bark of some of the species of Inga is also very astringent but do not seem to be known as such in this country. Here the lnga dulcis or Koorkapilli/ (see Icon. PI. Ind. Or. No. 198) is much employed as a fence, under the English name of ' white thorn' though a very different plant.
Remarks on Genera and Species. This branch of the subject I regret to say I must leave nearly untouched, as the space I can now devote to it, is so inadequate to its extent. This however 1 less regret as a high authority (G. Bentham, Esq ) has declared the exposition of the Indian portion of the order, in our Prodromus, the most valuable work on Leguminosae that has appeared since the publication of DeCandolle's Prodromus. To that therefore I refer for all we then knew. Some new genera and several species have been added, but as these might require, properly to elucidate them, probably little short of a whole number and weeks of labo- rious application for their careful determination I must for the present leave them undetermined. To compensate however so far as I am able for this deficiency, I shall make a point of devoting several plates in each number of my Icones for some time, to the illustration of the order; in that work a considerable number of species have been already figured, and as the current number (No. 13) will contain several more, I beg leave to refer to it, contenting myself for the present, with subjoining the generic character of one new genus and of Edwardsia and Taverniera, two old genera, but only recently added to the Peninsular flora.
EDWARDSIA, Salisbury. Sub-order Sopikireje.
Calyx inflated-campanulate, obliquely truncated, ob- scurely 5-tooih"d. Coiolla papilionaceous, vixillum, somewhat shorter than ilie wifigs, shortly unguiculate, broadly obovate, emarginate, angled at the base. Wings oblong, unguiculate, narrow, or scar ely auricled at the base : keel longer than the wintfs, obtuse, straight, somewhat united below, free at the apex. Stamens free, filaments glabrous, slightly dilated. Ovary shortly stipitate, linear, with several ovules. Style slightly incurved, glabrous, diluted at the base, attenuated at the apex. Stigma thin. Legume moniliform, 1-celled, 2-valved, m my-seeded, 4-winged. Seed roundish, estro- phiolaie, radicle somewhat incurved.
Trees or Uirubs u iiully from the Antarctic regions. Leaves exstipulnle, un q'ially pinnated, many-paired, the terminal leafiel distant from /he last pair. Inflores- cence racemose, racemes axillary, lax, few-flowered. Pedicels one-flowered, ebractiolate, or with a subulate bractea.
The essential character of this genus consists in the longitudinally winged legume, combined with the char- acters of the sub order Sophora. As my specimens have the habit of Sophora and possess the character taken from the legume well developed, I can hive no doubt of their really belonging to this g-rius though not in flower The spe ies I cannot so well determine. It may be new, but looks as if it might be referred, in
so far as characters taken from the foliage only can be relied upon, without much violence to either i?. nitida, or E. denudata, but preferably to the last owing to the leaves being nearly glabrous.
Taverniera D.C. — Tribe Hedysareee.
Calyx bi-bracteolate at thebase, 5-cleft, sub-bilabiate, segments linear, lanceolate, acuminate. Corolla papi- lionaceous, vixillum, somewhat obovate, wings small, about half the length of the other petals, keel obtuse, or obliquely truncated. Stamens 10, diadelphous (9 and 1) straight or inflexed. Style filiform, long, flexuose, deciduous, ovary 2-ovuled : legume flat, consisting of two 1-seeded, joints, the lower joint sometimes abortive, stipitiform, the fertile one oval, or orbicular, acu'iate, or prickled, the sutures on both sides convex. — Suffruticose oriental, or Indian plants.
Leaves 1-3 foliolate — -Stipules united at the base,flowers rosy coloured or white, afterwards scariose and sub-per- sistent.
T. cuneifolia, (Srn.) Leaves one foliolate, petioled, the upper ones aborting, the leaflet cuniato-obovate, re- curvedly mucrinate, thiekish, glabrous or pubescent: peduncles short from the axils of leafb-ss stipules, bearing towards the. apex, from I to 4 shortly pedicel- late flowers. The legumes with the inferior joint abor- tive, stipitiform, the superior one unequally obovate, echinate, with rigid^hooked bristles.— Hedysarum cunei- folium, Roxb. OnobrycMs cuneifolia, D.C.
Considerable variety is also observed in the character of its products. The wood of most of the arboreous species of Jicacia is exceeding hard, close grained and heavy, while that of Parkia bia< 'anduiosa is comparatively soft and coarse grained. That of Acacia spec'iom is so intensely hard that it is with difficulty it can be cut with the handsaw. The wood of many is dark brown or nearly black in the centre. Many of the species yield very pure gum, from Acacia vera and Arabica, the finest gum arabic is procured. The bark of others is strongly astringent, some of them yielding the Catechu extract, among these may be mentioned A. fer- rugenea, A. catechu, and A. leticocephafa. From the hark of all of these, fermented with jaggery, an inferior kind of arrack is procured by distillation ; they migfht all be more usefully employed in tanning leather. The bark of one New Holland species A. melanoxylon is imported into England in considerable quantities for that purpose. Of this bark in 1S31, there was 39 264 cwt. shipped from Mob art Town for England, and in 1835, the value of bark exported from the same place, was nearly £12,000. This subject therefore seems to merit attention in this country where so many species of the genus, having astringent bark, are indigenous. The bark of some of the species of Inga is also very astringent but do not seem to be known as such in this country. Here the lnga dulcis or Koorkapilli/ (see Icon. PI. Ind. Or. No. 198) is much employed as a fence, under the English name of ' white thorn' though a very different plant.
Remarks on Genera and Species. This branch of the subject I regret to say I must leave nearly untouched, as the space I can now devote to it, is so inadequate to its extent. This however 1 less regret as a high authority (G. Bentham, Esq ) has declared the exposition of the Indian portion of the order, in our Prodromus, the most valuable work on Leguminosae that has appeared since the publication of DeCandolle's Prodromus. To that therefore I refer for all we then knew. Some new genera and several species have been added, but as these might require, properly to elucidate them, probably little short of a whole number and weeks of labo- rious application for their careful determination I must for the present leave them undetermined. To compensate however so far as I am able for this deficiency, I shall make a point of devoting several plates in each number of my Icones for some time, to the illustration of the order; in that work a considerable number of species have been already figured, and as the current number (No. 13) will contain several more, I beg leave to refer to it, contenting myself for the present, with subjoining the generic character of one new genus and of Edwardsia and Taverniera, two old genera, but only recently added to the Peninsular flora.
EDWARDSIA, Salisbury. Sub-order Sopikireje.
Calyx inflated-campanulate, obliquely truncated, ob- scurely 5-tooih"d. Coiolla papilionaceous, vixillum, somewhat shorter than ilie wifigs, shortly unguiculate, broadly obovate, emarginate, angled at the base. Wings oblong, unguiculate, narrow, or scar ely auricled at the base : keel longer than the wintfs, obtuse, straight, somewhat united below, free at the apex. Stamens free, filaments glabrous, slightly dilated. Ovary shortly stipitate, linear, with several ovules. Style slightly incurved, glabrous, diluted at the base, attenuated at the apex. Stigma thin. Legume moniliform, 1-celled, 2-valved, m my-seeded, 4-winged. Seed roundish, estro- phiolaie, radicle somewhat incurved.
Trees or Uirubs u iiully from the Antarctic regions. Leaves exstipulnle, un q'ially pinnated, many-paired, the terminal leafiel distant from /he last pair. Inflores- cence racemose, racemes axillary, lax, few-flowered. Pedicels one-flowered, ebractiolate, or with a subulate bractea.
The essential character of this genus consists in the longitudinally winged legume, combined with the char- acters of the sub order Sophora. As my specimens have the habit of Sophora and possess the character taken from the legume well developed, I can hive no doubt of their really belonging to this g-rius though not in flower The spe ies I cannot so well determine. It may be new, but looks as if it might be referred, in
so far as characters taken from the foliage only can be relied upon, without much violence to either i?. nitida, or E. denudata, but preferably to the last owing to the leaves being nearly glabrous.
Taverniera D.C. — Tribe Hedysareee.
Calyx bi-bracteolate at thebase, 5-cleft, sub-bilabiate, segments linear, lanceolate, acuminate. Corolla papi- lionaceous, vixillum, somewhat obovate, wings small, about half the length of the other petals, keel obtuse, or obliquely truncated. Stamens 10, diadelphous (9 and 1) straight or inflexed. Style filiform, long, flexuose, deciduous, ovary 2-ovuled : legume flat, consisting of two 1-seeded, joints, the lower joint sometimes abortive, stipitiform, the fertile one oval, or orbicular, acu'iate, or prickled, the sutures on both sides convex. — Suffruticose oriental, or Indian plants.
Leaves 1-3 foliolate — -Stipules united at the base,flowers rosy coloured or white, afterwards scariose and sub-per- sistent.
T. cuneifolia, (Srn.) Leaves one foliolate, petioled, the upper ones aborting, the leaflet cuniato-obovate, re- curvedly mucrinate, thiekish, glabrous or pubescent: peduncles short from the axils of leafb-ss stipules, bearing towards the. apex, from I to 4 shortly pedicel- late flowers. The legumes with the inferior joint abor- tive, stipitiform, the superior one unequally obovate, echinate, with rigid^hooked bristles.— Hedysarum cunei- folium, Roxb. OnobrycMs cuneifolia, D.C. Tins species, which seems rare in India, has only, so far as J am aware been found in Mysore. It is readily known by its prickly fruit, being the only Indian spe- cies of the tribe Iledysarea?. having that character.
Acrocarpvjs, (R. W.) Arn.
Calyx sub-coriaceons, ebracteolate, campanulate, 5- cleft, segments erect, the superior and inferior a little larger. Torus covering the tube : Petals oblong, sub- coriaceous, about equal, sessile, long persistent, insert- ed on the mouth of the calyx and a little longer than its lobes; aestivation sub-imbricate: Stamens alternate with the petals, filaments broad at the base, subulate, two or three times longer than the petals, straight ; anthers oscillatory. Ovary long, stipitate, (stipe free) oblong, linear, falcate, pointed, with the short incurved acute style, many (about 15) ovuled. Fruit unknown.
This species is a large showy tree. The (rank of one that I saw, I estimated at 50 feet, high without a branch. Leaves alternate, unequally pinnate, deciduous ; peti- oles 4-6 inches, long, round : leaflets 3-4 pairs, lanceo- late, acuminated, somewhat unequal at the base, 2-3 inches long, entire, pale beneath. The flowers largish, expanding before the evolution of the leaves, scarlet racemose. Racemes speciform, 6-8 inches, long, thickly covered with flowers, the pedicels a line or line°and half long, recurved. Stamina nearly an inch long.
A. fraxinifoliits, Am.— Journal of Zoology and Bo- tany No. 12 'Wight's Icones PI. Ind. Or. tab.' 254.
Habitat. — The forests of Courtallum fiowerin°- in February when almost naked of leaves. In this respect resembling the Erythrinas.
The affinities of this genus in the order are not yet clearly made out for want of fruit, but Dr. Arn'ott thinks it referable to the tribe Cassiea of Casalpinea.
EXPLANATION OF PLATES.
78* (81) — 1. Virgilia aurea, (Lam.) Flowering branch, natural size.
2. A dissected flower. The stamens in this figure are incorrectly represented diadelphous: they ought to have been shown monadelphous at the base and free above .
3. Anthers back and front views.
4. Ovary cut vertically.
5. A cluster of pods full grown — natural size.
6. A seed in situ and 7. The same detached — natural size.
8. A seed cut vertically, showing the incurved radicle of Curvembrya.
9. The cotyledons removed from the testa — with the exceptions mentioned, all more or less magnified.
79 (82) — I. Tephrosia suberosa, (D.C.) Flowering branch — natural size.
2. A dissected flower, stamens diadelphous.
3. Stamens back and front views.
4. A portion of the ovary cut vertically.
5. A portion of a legume opened to show the seed in situ.
6. A seed — natural size — 7 and 8. The same dis- sected.
80 (79) — 1. Desmodium rvfescens. Flowering branch, natural size.
2-3. A dissected flower, petals detached from the ovary and calyx.
4. Anthers back and front views.
5. Ovary cut vertically.
6. A portion of a legume showing its jointed struc- ture, two of the cells opened to show the seed in situ.
7-8. Dissected seed.
9. A portion of a leaf to show the hairs — all more or less magnified.
81 (84) — 1. Cyanospermum tomentosum, (W. and A.) Flowering branch — natural size.
2. A flower partially dissected — the lobes of the calyx removed to show the insertion of the petals, stamens and ovary.
3. Anthers back and front views.
4. The ovary opened, 2-ovuled.
5. A legume opened, 2-seeded, seed blue (hence the generic name).
6. A detached seed.
7. The same cut transversely.
8. Seed cut vertically, to show the curved embryo.
9. Cotyledons removed from the testa — all more or less magnified.
82 (78)— 1. Pterocarpus Wallichii, (W.andA.) Flow- ering branch — natural size.
2. A dissected flower.
3. Stamens.
4-5. Ovary cut vertically and transversely.
6. A legume.
7. The same cut vertically, 2-ceIIed and 2-seeded, showing that half the ovules have aborted.
8-9-10. A seed dissected — all more or less magnified.
83 (83) — 1. Cassia Roxburghii, (D.C.) Flowering branch — natural size.
2. Calyx, stamens, and ovary, in situ — filaments not united.
3. The petals detached nearly regular.
4- 5-6. Anthers of different forms.
7-8. Ovary cut transversely and longitudinally.
9. Portions of a legume, cylindrical, with its trans- verse division.
10. Another portion with a seed in situ.
11. A seed — natural size.
12. The same cut transversely, showing the foliaceons cotyledons and copious albumen by which they are sur- rounded.
84 (80)—l. Adinanthera pavonina, (Lirn.) Flowering branch — natural size.
2. A flower expanded.
3. The same, the petals removed to show the calyx, stamens and ovary.
4. Anthers, showing the glandular appendage w hence the generic name is derived.
5- 6. The ovary cut transversely and vertically.
7. A legume as it appears during dehiscence.
8. A seed.
9. Cut vertically, to show the radicle and plumula.
10. Cut. transverselv.
11. Embryo detached.
- Owing to an oversight in numbering the plates of this tribe they are erroneously arranged : with the view of
enabling the error to be corrected in binding, I have numbered the explanations as they should stand in the series.
PAPILIONACÆ. ̼ LEGUMINOSÆ. SOPHOREÆ..jpg)
VIRGILIA AUREA. (Lam.)
PAPILIONACÆ. ̼ LEGUMINOSÆ. LOTEÆ..jpg)
TEPHROSIA SUBEROSA. (DC.)
PAPILIONACÆ. ̼ LEGUMINOSÆ. HEDYSAREÆ..jpg)
DESMODIUM RUFESCENS. (DC.)
PAPILIONACÆ. ̼LEGUMINOSÆ. DALBERGIEÆ..jpg)
PTEROCARPUS WALLICHII. (W.&A.)
CÆSALPINEÆ. LEGUMINOSÆ. CASSIEÆ..jpg)
CASSIA ROXBURGHII. (DC.)
MIMOSEÆ. LEGUMINOSÆ. ACACIEÆ..jpg)
ADENANTHERA PAVONINA. (Lmn.)