FALSE INDIGO: A genus of the dianthria order, belonging to the diadelphia class of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 32d order, Papilionaceae. The characters are: The calyx is a single-leaved pentanthium, tubular and persistent; The corolla consists of an ovate, concave, erect petal, scarcely larger than, and placed on the upper side of, the calyx; The filaments consist of ten erect unequal filaments, longer than the corolla; The antherae are simple. The pistillum has a roundish germen; the stylus subulate, and the length of the filaments; the stigma simple; The pericarpium is a lunate unicellular legumen, reflected, larger than the calyx, and tuberculated: The seeds are two, and kidney-shaped. By the corolla alone this genus may be distinguished from all the known plants in the universe: The petals are the banner, the wings and keel are wanting; which is very singular in a papilionaceous corolla.

Of this there is only one known species, a native of Carolina, where the inhabitants formerly made from it a course kind of indigo, whence the plant took its name. It rises, with many irregular stems, to the height of 12 or 14 feet. The leaves are late in the spring before their foliage is fully displayed. The ends of their branches are generally destroyed by the frost; or, if they recover it, they have the appearance of being dead; whilst other plants testify their effects of the reviving months. But, notwithstanding these defects, this tree has some other good properties that in part make amends for them. The leaves, when cut, which will not be before the middle of May, are admired by all. They are of a pleasant green colour; are very large, beautifully pinnated, the folioles being arranged along the stalk by pairs, and terminate by an odd one.

The flowers are of a purple colour, and show themselves in perfection with us the beginning of July. They grow in spikes, seven or eight inches long, at the ends of the branches, and are of a singular structure. In order to make this tree have its best effect, it should be planted among others of its own growth, in a well-sheltered situation; by which means the ends will not be so liable to be destroyed by the winter's frosts; the branches will not suffer by the violence of the winds; and as it is subject to put out many branches near the root, these indelicacies and imperfections will be concealed; whilst the tree will show itself to the utmost advantage when in blow, by elevating its purple-spiked flowers amongst the others in a pleasing view. The seeds of this plant were first sent to England by Mr Mark Catesby in 1724, from which many plants were raised in the gardens near London. These were of quick growth, and several of them produced flowers in three years.

Culture. The amorphia is most readily propagated by seeds, which ought to be procured annually from America. It may also be propagated by laying down the young branches, which in one year will make good roots; and may then be taken off, and planted either in the nursery, or in the places where they are designed to remain. If they are put into a nursery, they should not remain there more than one year; for as the plants make large shoots, they do not remove well when they have remained long in a place.