Flora Medica

FABACEJE, OR LEGUMINOS-S.e4-90. T. Fcenum Graecum Linn. sp. pi. 1402. Ach. Rich. bot.med. 549. DC. prodr.ii. 182. W. and A. i. 195. South ofEurope, and India ;but in the latter only known in a cultivatedstate.Annual. Stem erect, simple. Leaflets obovate, obsoletely toothed ;stipules lanceolate, falcate, entire. Flowers sessile, solitary or in pairs.Calyx hairy, the teeth subulate, the length of the tube. Legumeselongated, compressed, longitudinally reticulated, falcate, with a longbeak about half the length of the legume. Seeds large, ovate, andwrinkled; the radicle prominent. W. and A. A decoction of the seedsused as an emollient, poultices are made with their flour. Only used inveterinary medicine.MELILOTUS.Calyx tubular, softly 5-toothed. Corolla deciduous : keelsimple alae shorter than the vexillum ; : the keel and the alae cohering,free from the stamen-tube : vexillum free. Stamens diadelphous(9 and 1). Style terminal filiform. Legumes globoseor ovoid, longer than the calyx, coriaceous, scarcely dehiscent, 1-or few-seeded. Herbaceous annual or perennial plants. Leavestrifoliolate ;leaflets often toothed, the terminal one stalked.Stipules connate with the petiole. Peduncles axillary. Flowersracemose, shortly pedicellate, white or yellow. Fruit pendulous.W. and A.491. M. officinalis Willd. enum. 790. DC. prodr.ii. 186.Ach. Rich. bot. med. 550. W. and A. i. 196. Trifolium Melilotusofficinalis Linn. sp. pi. 1078. Fl. dan. t. 934-. Commonin hedges in the midland and southern parts of Europe.Stem erect branched ;branches very much spreading.Leafletslanceolate oblong, obtuse, remotely serrated ; stipules setaceous. Teethof the calyx unequal, the length of the tube. Vexillum brown, striated,and with the wings as long as the keel. Legumes 2-seeded, obovate,deeply pitted and wrinkled, somewhat hairy, becoming black, and rathergibbous ; style filiform, the length of the legume. Seeds unequallycordate, DC. The decoction is emollient and occasionally employedon the continent in lotions and enemas. The odoriferous principleit very fugacious was asserted by Vogel to be benzoic acid, but accordingto Guibourt and others it is Coumarine the aromatic principle;of the Tonka Bean.TRIFOLIUM.Calyx tubular, permanent, glandless, 5-cleft, with subulatesegments. Keel shorter than the wings and vexillum, and allgrowing into a monopetalous corolla. Stamens diadelphous.Legume small, scarcely dehiscent, often ovate, 1-2-seeded,shorter than the calyx and covered by it ;rarely oblong 3-4-;240