FABACEAE. 



177 



1. Crotalaria retusa L. EATTLE-BOX. 

 (Fig. 196.) Annual, stout. Stems l-3 

 high, usually branched, finely and softly 

 pubescent; leaflet one, ranging from 

 cuneate to oblanceolate, Is'-^i' long, 

 rounded or retuse at the apex, often gla- 

 brous above, more or less pubescent be- 

 neath, short-petioled; stipules minute; 

 racemes conspicuous, several many-flow- 

 ered; pedicels 3 "-5" long, subtended by 

 minute caducous bracts; calyx finely pubes- 

 cent; lobes of the upper lip triangular- 

 lanceolate, those of the lower lip lanceo- 

 late ; corolla large, showy ; standard with 

 a blade usually about 10" broad; pods 

 !' 2' long; seeds becoming loose in the 

 pods and rattling when dry. 



In a pasture, Walsingham, 1012. Ad- 

 veutive. Native of Florida, the West Indies 

 and continental tropical America. Flowers 

 in autumn and winter. 



3. MEDICAGO [Tourn.] L. 



Herbs, with 3-foliolate leaves, and 



small yellow or violet flowers in axillary 



heads or racemes. Leaflets commonly 



dentate, the veins terminating in the teeth. 



Calyx-teeth short, nearly equal; standard 



obovate or oblong; wings oblong; keel obtuse; stamens diadelphous, the 



1 opposite the standard separate from the other 9; anthers all alike; ovary 



1-several-ovuled ; style subulate ; pod curved 

 or spirally twisted, reticulated or spiny, 

 indehiscent, 1-few-seeded. [Greek, Medike, 

 from Medea, whence the Medic, or Lucerne,, 

 was derived.] About 50 species, natives of 

 Europe, Asia and Africa. Type species: 

 Medicago sativa L. 



Pod 1-seeded, curved, not spiny. 



1. M. lupulina. 



Pod several-seeded, spirally twisted, its edges 

 spiny. 2. M. hixpiila. 



1. Medicago lupulina L. BLACK OR 

 HOP MEDIC. BLACKSEED HOP CLOVER. 

 NONESUCH. (Fig. 197.) Pubescent, the 

 branches decumbent and spreading, often 

 l-2 long; leaflets obovate, oval or nearly 

 orbicular, 3"-7" long, denticulate or crenu- 

 late, obtuse, mueronate or emarginate; 

 stipules ovate or lanceolate, dentate; pe- 

 duncles l'-3' long ; head oblong, or cylin- 

 drie, dense, 2"-10" long; flowers about 1" 

 long, yellow; pods black when ripe, curved, 

 strongly veined. 



Common in fields and waste grounds. Naturalized from Europe. Widely 

 naturalized in North America. Flowers nearly all the year around. Known as 

 " Clover." 



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