Adesmia
(from a, without, desmos, a bond; in reference to the stamens being free). ORD. Leguminosae. Chiefly greenhouse evergreen shrubs, or trailers, from South America, with lanceolate stipulas, abruptly pinnate leaves, ending in a bristle; axillary one-flowered pedicels, or the flowers racemosely disposed at the tops of the branches, in consequence of the upper leaves being abortive. They will grow well in a mixture of loam, peat, and sand. Propagated by cuttings placed in sand, covered by a hand glass, in a gentle heat; or by seeds, which are generally more satisfactory. The annual species--A. muricata, A. papposa, and A. pendula--are not worth growing. The following are fairly representative of the most ornamental species.
A. glutinosa (sticky).* fl. yellow; racemes elongated, terminal, simple, spinescent, and are (as well as the linear bracteas) clothed with white hairs. May. l. with about three pairs of elliptic, hairy leaflets; branches spreading, beset with glandular, glutinous hairs. Stem shrubby; legumes three-jointed, very long. h. 1ft. to 2ft. 1831.
A. Loudonii (Loudon's). fl. yellow. May, h. 2ft. Valparaiso, 1830. A. microphylla (small-leaved).* fl. yellow; racemes somewhat capitate, terminal, simple, spinescent. June. l. with six pairs of small orbicular leaflets, on short petioles, pubescent; branches spinose. Stem shrubby. h. 1ft. to 2ft. 1830.
A. Uspallatensis (Uspallatan). fl. yellow. July. h. 1ft. China, 1832.
A. viscosa (clammy). fl. yellow. August. h. 12ft. Chili, 1831.