suborders Mimoseae and Caesalpineae. The former of these form a single tribe, Mimoseae the
latter, is divided into three tribes, namely, Geoffreae, Cassieae and JDetarieae. One species only
of the first of these tribes is found in India, (the earth nut A ra ch is 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 givingin the original Latin, after adding with, reference to the characters of the tribes,,
that “ fo l ia cirrhosa” alludes to the tendrils with which the leaves of many, the common garden
pea for example, are furnished, and “ fo l ia 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 durifig 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—P apilionace.®.
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 L a th y ru s 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, (v ix illm ri): larger and
overlapping the others in aestivation : the lateral ones ( a la e J usually unequal sided, the two
lower ones often cohering nearly their whole length into one boat-shaped petal with a double
claw, ( ca r in a J hut 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 £) the
more usual form : but sometimes they are equally diadelphous f, rarely tri-adelphous : the filaments
distinct and subulate at the apex, anthers erect, 2-eelled, 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 transverse
divisions separating at maturely into so many 1 -seeded indehiscent cells, forming what is
called a c 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 sometimes
elongated. Cotyledons thin and foliaceous, ascending above the soil during germination,
or thick and fleshy remaining below.
§ I . C urvembryae— R a d ic le o f the embryo bent back on the edge o f the cotyledons.
P hyllolobeae—• Cotyledons foliaceous.
Tribe 1. S ophoreae—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, V ig ilia , and E d -
w a rd ia , (which I have recently found on the Balaghaut mountains) being the only ones known
in the Peninsula. 1 do not find any useful properties assigned to the plants of this tribe.
Tribe 2. Loteae—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 being
intro-flexed, sometimes with transverse septa. Cotyledons, flattish, foliaceous in germination.
This which is a large tribe, is divided into several subtribes—Genisteae, T r fo lie a e , Clito-
rieae, Galegiae and A stragaleae—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 ju n c e a ) are employed as hemp in the manufacture of cordage and canvas. The
powdered seed of Fenugreek ( T rigonella Fcenum-grecum) is very largely consumed in native
cookery. The vegetable principle called Coumarin is found abundantly in the flowers of
Melilotus officinalis, it is that principle to which the Tonka bean owes its properties. The
young beans of Cyamopsis psoraliodes (Cott-averaykay Tam) is with reason much prized by
the natives as a culinary pulse, and merits more attention from Europeans, as it is a pleasant
and delicate vegetable. In d ig o fe r a tin cto ria and a n il furnish us with the valuable blue dye
(Indigo) of such vast commercial importance to India. The roots of Clitoria tern a tea are
emetic. The roots of Tephrosia p u rpurea, 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 M g y p tia c a 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 A g a te g ra n d ifio ra 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. H edys arkae —Corolla papilionacious: Stamina either monadelphous or diadelphous
(9-1 or sometimes 5-5) rarely all distinct, often somewhat persistent. Legume transversely divided
into several l-seeded cells or joints, sometimes 1-celled, and then always l-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 Desmodium, have but few species, neither are they important
in their economical applications. The root of P u e ra ria 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
sennoides is stimulant and tonic. Manna is said to be produced by A lh a g i M urorum and
several allied species in Persia and Bockra, 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, S a in tfo in
(Onobrychis sativa) affords an excellent fodder and is much cultivated in different parts of
Europe on that account.
S arcolobeae—Cotyledons* thick and fleshy.
Tribe 4. Vicie^j—Corolla papilionacious. Stamens diadelphous (9 and l.) Legume
continuous not jointed. Cotyledons thick, farinaceous, unchanged during germination and
remaining under ground within the seed coat; radicle indexed: leaves abruptly pinnated,
except Cicer and some species of Orobus; 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