NHD53/17

Illustration of an unidentified Fabaceae plant

Fabaceae family

Original inscriptions: 大-楠木 (front lower right in ink, attached to page with pin; second character unintelligible)

Further inscriptions: H. Sh. (front lower left in ink)

Flowering branch of an unidentified legume plant. One main green branch, with smooth surface. Numerous densely leaved twigs branching out laterally at each sides; leaves are elliptic with entire margins, light green with darker coloured pinnate veins. A few leaves are depicted in a deteriorated state, with brown spots and brown and eaten out edges. Three flowering twigs branch on the top right side of the main branch; these are thik, with opposite individual, globular white flowers, half of which are opened, half are closed in buds. The flowers have five white round petals, they are seen laterally, and stellate brown sepals support the corolla. The buds are small, globulose and dark brown in colour. On the lower left: a small, thin and leafless twig bearing two seeded pods. The pods are elongated with pointy ends, greyish outer surface. One is depicted laterally, slightly open, showing inner light brown surface and one partially visible red seed. The right pod is fully open, showing the two inner sides of the pod. the pod accommodates four seeds, one red seed is still on the pod, a second seed is depicted away from the pod, and partially dissected, showing interior white endocarp. The seed is oblong in shape. On the bottom: dissected view of ten stamens, with white filaments and green anthers; one pedicel showing five sepals, coloured in light green, and one style with curled stigma; five pale pink-white petals, four of oblong shape, thin, one of rounded shape, wide.

Any further details: Page cut on the top and right sides.