Flora Medica

FABACE^E, OR LEGUMINOS^;.pinnate; leaflets generally about 13, oval, entire, obtuse, slightly emarginate,viscid ; stipules inconspicuous. Flowers palelilac in axillary,erect, stalked racemes. Legumes compressed, smooth. The rootsabound in a saccharine mucilaginous matter, which is slightly bitter,and readily soluble in water. A powder and the well known commonextract, are prepared from it ;the decoction in different forms is acommon remedy for coughs, and hectic or phthisical cases.501. G. echinata Linn. sp. pi. 1046. has a root with similarproperties, but in a less degree.TEPHROSIA.Calyx, without bractlets, about equally 5-toothed or 5-cleft.Vexillum large, roundish, usually silky or pubescent on the outside,spreading or reflexed keel : obtuse, cohering with the alae.Stamens variously united, monadelphous, or diadelphous, theupper filament sometimes half-united with the others. Stylefiliform. Stigma terminal. Legume generally sessile, and flatlycompressed, linear, many-seeded: valves usually flat. Seedscompressed. Shrubs or herbaceous plants, erect, or rarelyclimbing ? Stipules free from the petiole, lanceolate or subulate,never sagittate. Leaves unequally pinnated, sometimesreduced to a single leaflet. Racemes terminal, axillary, or oppositeto the leaves. Flowers white or purplish. W. and A.502. T. purpurea Pers. synops.ii. 329. ii.DC.prodr. 250.W. and A. i. 213. Galega purpurea Linn, amcen. Hi. p. 19.(Burnt, zeyl. Ixxvii. t. 32.). Sandy lands on the coast of Coromandel.Shrubby, somewhat erect, much branched ; branches glabrous, pubescent,or slightly villous. Leaves pinnated leaflets ; cuneate-oblongor lanceolate ; upper side usually glabrous, under more or less pubescent; stipules subulate from a broad base. Racemes opposite theleaves peduncled, often longer than the leaves, many-flowered. Flowerson pedicels longer than the bracteas, 2-3 together. Calyx pubescent ;segments about the length of the tube, subulate. Corolla about 3 timesthe length of the calyx tube : vexillum silky, bent back from near itsbase. Legumes slightly compressed, spreading, linear, slightly falcate,obtuse with a short point, at length pubescent or glabrous. "W. $ A.Root bitter ; a decoction prescribed by Indian doctors in dyspepsia,lientery and tympanitis.503. T. Apollinea DC. prodr.ii. 254. Galega ApollineaDelil tegypt. 144. t. 53. f. 5. Egypt and Nubia.Suffruticose, spreading, covered with close-pressed down. Leafletsin 2-3 pairs, obovate-oblong, emarginate, silky underneath. Racemesopposite the leaves and of the same length. Legumes erect-spreading,6-7-seeded, minutely downy. DC. The leaves often found mixedwith those of Senna. It iscommonly cultivated for its indigo in Nubia,according to Mr. Hoskins. 244