Calyx 5-parted. Petals 5, nearly equal, oblong or oval. Stamens 10, distinct, slightly declined; anthers dehiscing longitudinally. Pod flat, oblong, often falcate, few–several-seeded.—Low perennial herbs, or woody at base, punctate with black glands, with bipinnate leaves, and naked racemes of yellow flowers opposite the leaves or terminal. (Named for Count von Hoffmansegg, a German botanist.)
1. H. Jamèsii, Torr. & Gray. Herbaceous, finely pubescent; pinnæ 2 or 3 pairs with an odd one, the small oblong leaflets 5–9 pairs; pods broad, falcate, 1´ long, 2–3-seeded.—Central Kan. to Tex., Ariz., and Mex.
43. GYMNÓCLADUS, Lam. Kentucky Coffee-tree.
Flowers diœcious or polygamous, regular. Calyx elongated-tubular below, 5-cleft. Petals 5, oblong, equal, inserted on the summit of the calyx-tube. Stamens 10, distinct, short, inserted with the petals. Pod oblong, flattened, hard, pulpy inside, several seeded. Seeds flattish.—A large tall tree, with rough bark, stout branchlets, not thorny, and large unequally twice-pinnate leaves; the leaflets standing vertically.—Flowers whitish, in terminal racemes. (Name from γυμνός, naked, and κλάδος, a branch, alluding to the stout branches destitute of spray.)
1. G. Canadénsis, Lam. Leaves 2–3° long, with several large partial leafstalks bearing 7–13 ovate stalked leaflets, the lowest pair with single leaflets; stipules wanting; pod 6–10´ long, 2´ broad; the seeds over ½´ across.—Rich woods, western N. Y. and Penn. to Minn., E. Neb., and Ark.
44. GLEDÍTSCHIA, L. Honey-Locust.
Flowers polygamous. Calyx short, 3–5-cleft, the lobes spreading. Petals as many as the sepals and equalling them, the 2 lower sometimes united. Stamens 3–10, distinct, inserted with the petals on the base of the calyx. Pod flat, 1–many-seeded. Seeds flat.—Thorny trees, with abruptly once or twice pinnate leaves, and inconspicuous greenish flowers in small spikes. Thorns above the axils. (Named in honor of J. G. Gleditsch, a botanist contemporary with Linnæus.)
1. G. triacánthos, L. (Three-thorned Acacia, or Honey-Locust.) Thorns stout, often triple or compound; leaflets lanceolate-oblong, somewhat serrate; pods linear, elongated (1–1½° long), often twisted, filled with sweet pulp between the seeds.—Rich woods, western N. Y. and Penn. to Ga., west to Mich., E. Neb., Kan., and La. A large tree, common in cultivation, with very hard and heavy wood.
2. G. aquática, Marsh. (Water-Locust.) Thorns slender, mostly simple; leaflets ovate or oblong; pods oval, 1-seeded, pulpless. (G. monosperma, Walt.)—Deep swamps, Mo. to S. Ind., S. Car., and southward. A smaller tree, 30–40° high.
45. DESMÁNTHUS, Willd.