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Show 474 The Hijlory of P L A N T S. long legumen or pod, with feveral tranfverfe partitions in it: the feeds are numerous and roundi!h. . · This genus comprehends the Mimofa of Tourncfott, the Acacia of the fame au-thor, and the Inga of Plumier. In fome the fiam~na are very numerous; in others they are regularly ten, in others only five, and in fame but four; in this laO: c~fe, the calyx and corolla are divided only into four fegments. T he legume of the Mimo[a is articulated and the leaves are fenfitive ; the legume of the Acacia is cylindric, and the leaves do not move on the touch ; the legume of the Inga is fldhy, and the leaves are pinnated, and their rib alated. After thefe difiinetions, the defcription of even a fingle fpecies is not neceffitry. The Mhbofre of authors are, 1. The narrow-leaved Mimofa. 2. The broader-leaved Mimofa. 3· The Mimofa, with glomerated pods. 4· Prickly, large-leaved Mimofa. 5· The prickly and more robuft Mimofa. 6. The Mimofa, with leaves on long pedicles. " The Acacire of authors are very numerous, but all that are called difl:inct fpecies are not fuch: the more remarkable and certainly difiinB: are, I. The Farnefian Acacia, with double, difl:inct fpines. 2. The true }Egyptian Acacia, whence the Succus Acacire and Gum Arabic. 3· The great-leaved Acacia. 4- The purple-flowered Acacia, with compreffed pods. 5· The broad-leaved, white-flowered Acacia. 6. The tamarind- leaved Acacia. 7· The purple, walnut-leaved Acacia. 8. The very [mallleaved Acacia. 9· The bull's-horn, or ~hick-fpined Acacia. 10. The very numerous and !inall-leaved Acacia. . 1 I. The tall, yellow-flowered Acacia. .. CARYOPHYLLUS~ THE calyx is double; \here is a perianthium for the flower, and another for the fruit: the perianthium of the fruit i£ permanent, very fmall, acute, and divided into four fegrnents, and placed under the germen: the perianthium of the flower is placed upon the germen, and is compofed of four roundi!h and hollow leaves: the corolla confifis of four petals, roundith, crenated, and fmaller than the leaves of the cup : the ftamina are numerous, capillary filaments ; the antherre are fimple: the germen is oblong, large, and terminated by four rigid and patent corniculre : the fiyle is fimple, and inferted into a quadrangular receptacle; the ftigma is alfo fimple: the ftuit is oval. and contains a fingle cell, and is umbilicated with the corniculre of the genrien, which then become connivent : the feed is fingle, oval, and large. Of this genus there is but one known fpecies. C A R Y 0 P H Y L L U S. This grows to fifteen or twenty feet high ; it's trunk is thick, and it's bark fmooth and brown; the branches are numerous and fpreading: the leaves ftand very thick on them; they are four inches long, near two in breadth, and of the {hape of thofe of the bay-tree : the flowers fiand in clufiers; they are fmall, of a beautiful blue, and very ft·agrant. It is a native of Ternate, and fome of the Molucca Hlands. The doves, ufed with us as a fpice, are the embryo fruit, with the unopened flowers affixed to them. They are gathered in November. ME S N A. T HE calyx is a permanent perianthium, compofed of four fmall, oval leaves: the corolla confifts of four large, hollow, rounded petals: the fiamina are very numerous filaments, of the length of the cup: the antherre are fimple: the ger.men lS roundifh; the il:yle is fimple, and the fl:igma q~:Jadridentated: the fruit is a cona~eous capfule, of a roundilh, acuminated figure, formed of four valves, and marked w1th ~s many ela~ futures running longitudinally : the feeds are four, large, flelhy, of a turbinated, tnquetrous form, and obtufe. Of this genus there is but one known fpecies, an Afiatic, figured in the Hortus Mal. 3· 53· MAMM EA 12 |