Flora Medica

FABACE^E, OR LEGUMINOS^.father longer than the wings ; wings stipitate, auricled at the base ofthe limb ;keel obtuse, shorter than the wings. Ovary villous, stylestraight. Legumes woolly, inflated, flattened on the upper edge, endingin a mucro recurved downwards. DC. Labillardiere reported thatthis produces Gum Tragacanth on Lebanon ;but it is found that itsgumis white and more transparent than that of commerce ; neither does itdissolve so well in water, and therefore is inferior in quality.It nowappears upon the testimony of Olivier that the gum of commerce is obtainedfrom A. verus.512. A. Tragacantha Linn. sp. pi. 1073, which is A. massiliensisLam. diet. ii. 320, is said by De Candolle to yield noTragacanth.513. A. creticus Lam. diet. i. 321. DC. astr. n. 91. t. 33.Candia, on Mount Ida.Leaflets 10-16, oblong, acute, ;downy petioles permanent, spiny.Flowers streaked, purple, axillary, sessile, clustered. Calyx 5-partedwith feathery setaceous lobes rather longer than the corolla. A smallquantity of Tragacanth is furnished by this species M. Th. Martius;thinks it is the sort that is received in the form of threads or slenderstrips while he ascribes the cake Tragacanth to A. verus.;CORONILLA.Calyx campanulate, short, 5-toothed ;the superiorteeth approximatedand partially united. Claws of the petals distinctlylonger than the calyx keel acute. Stamens ; diadelphous. Legumetapering, slender, finally separating into oblong 1 -seededjoints. Seeds ovate or cylindrical. Shrubs or herbaceousplants. Leaves unequally pinnated. Peduncles axillary, bearingan umbel of stalked flowers. DC.514. C. EmerusZzVm. sp. pi. 104-6. Willd.nl 1149. DC.prodr. ii. 309. (Hall. helv. 389. Mill. diet. ic. t. 132. f. 1.)Common all over the South of Europe. (Scorpion Senna).A small bush. Branches deep green, strongly furrowed, quitesmooth. Leaflets 2-3 pairs, obovate, retuse or obtuse, when youngrather downy ; stipules ovate, acute, very much shorter than the firstjoint of the petiole. Peduncles axillary, 2-3-flowered, slender, erect,as long as the leaves. Calyx slightly downy, only half the length ofthe claws of the petals. Corolla deep bright yellow. Legume a longwhile before its joints drop in pieces. Leaves cathartic like those ofSenna, but less active.515. C. varia Linn. sp. 1048. Crantz austr. t. 432. Willd.iii. 1153. DC. prodr.ii. 310. Bot. Mag. t. 258. (Clus. hist.ii. 237. f.2.)Meadows and waste places of the south ofEurope and the Crimea.A smooth, spreading herbaceous plant. Leaflets 9-13, oblong, mucronate;the lowest close to the stem; stipules very small, acute.Umbels 16-20-flowered. Legumes erect. Leaves diuretic and cathartic.Juice said to be even poisonous.248