LEGUMINOS.E 



of tiny, magenta-blue flowers seem inadequate to the 

 sturdiness of the plants. When picked, the branches are 

 found to be delicate and rather graceful, but unfortu- 

 nately, neither leaves nor flowers keep well after the stem 

 has been cut. Botanically, the Tick Trefoils are difficult 

 to separate. The distinguishing feature of this one is the 

 almost stemless leaves and the narrow leaflets. 



LEGUMINOS^: PULSE FAMILY 



Lespedeza capitata, Michx. 

 var. velutina, (Bicknell) Fernald. 



Yellowish-white Bush Clover, 



Dusty Clover. 

 August-September 



Lespedeza: dedicated to Lespedez, the Spanish governor of 



Florida in the time of Michaux. 

 Capitata: Latin denoting in a head, in allusion to the 



heads of flowers. 

 Velutina: from Latin for shaggy hairs. 



THE PREFERRED HABITAT: dry, sandy soil of the Commons. 



THE PLANT: wand-like, somewhat erect or prostrate, two 

 feet to three feet high; the stem simple, with silky and 

 silvery hairs. 



THE LEAVES: alternate; pinnately three-compound; the 

 leaflets oblong tending to oval with short and matted, 

 ashy wool on both surfaces, acute or obtusish at each end, 

 entire. 



THE FLOWERS: in dense, oblong heads, in the upper axils 

 of the leaves, sessile, or on short peduncles; the petals 

 spotted with purple. 



THE FRUIT: a very small, pubescent pod. 



162 



