Calyx campanulate, two-lipped, 5-cleft, a little convex at
the back, thickly clothed with short woolly hairs, deciduous
and dropping off at the thickened part, with the petals and
stamens, the lower part persistent and tapering downwards,
including the lower part of the pedicle of the ovarium ;
upper lip bifid, the lower one trifid, the segments spreading,
the lowermost generally reflexed. Vexillum large, obcordate,
reflexed, channelled through the centre, striated
with numerous small lines, keeled at the back, the margins
slightly folded inwards. Wings shorter than the vexillum,
semicord ate at the base and eared on one side, the ear curved
inwards so as to enclose the base of the keel, the other side
producing a slender unguis. Keel large and blunt, 1-leaved,
cloven at the point, longer than the vexillum, producing a
slender unguis on each division, at the base on one side,
the other side eared with a broad rounded ear. Stamens
10, distinct, falling off with the calyx and corolla: _/?/«-
ments smooth, ascending at the points, unequal in length,
inserted in the back of the anthers. Ovarium linear, compressed,
stipitate, densely clothed with a close-pressed silky
down. Style smooth, ascending. Stigma a very small inconspicuous
head.
Our drawing of this handsome Shrub was made from
fine specimens kindly sent to us the beginning of June last,
by Robert Barclay, Esq. of Bury Hill, in whose splendid
collection it flowered in the open border, where it had stood
all the Winter, and where it thrives in the common soil of
the garden.
Botanists have considerably disagreed in regard to the genus
to which this plant should be referred. Dr. Hooker, in
the Exotic Flora, referring it to Baptisia; M. Decandolle,
and Mr. D. Don, have referred it to Thermopsis ; the latter,
however, doubting the propriety of its being added to
that genus. Mr. Lindley considers it a species of Anagyris:
we have no doubt in ourselves, but it should constitute a
genus distinct from the whole of these, differing from Baptisia
in its flat pod, from Thermopsis in its deciduous stamens,
and from Anagyris in the form of its flowers, and
difference of pod; and, we believe, from the whole, in its
deciduous calyx. We have derived the generic name from
TrnrTM, to fall, and avfloc, a flower, the flower falling off altogether,
calyx, petals, and stamens.
1. Shows the deciduous character o f the Calyx. 2. Calyx. 3. Vexillum.
4. The two wings, o. Keel. 0. The 10 Stamens. 7. The young pod, terminated
by the Style and small Stigma.