desmitis (desmitis)

[NL., desmo-. [NL., etc., as if * δεσμώδης, like a chain, nus of leguminous plants, herbs or shrubs, with pinnately trifoliate (rarely simple) leaves, small flowers, and flat, deeply lobed and jointed pods. Each joint of the pod is one-seeded and usually covered with minute hooked hairs. IMG:content-2462.jpg:[blocks in formation] Asia, and also extra-tropical in America, Africa, and Australia. The United States flora includes 35 species. The most remarkable member of the genus is an Indian species, D. gyrans, the telegraph-plant, so called from the