n THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



Not all plants are clovers that are called so. Any plant 

 with leaves of three leaflets are likely to be regarded as be- 

 longing to the group, however, and we are prepared to hear 

 the species of Lotus and Hosackia called "trefoil" and bird's- 

 foot trefoil". Our only species of Hosackia is also know as 

 "wild vetch" and "prairie bird's foot trefoil". Lotus cor- 

 niculata is an introduced plant and has an abundance of ver- 

 nacular names of no special interest on this side of the water. 

 Among them are "ground honeysuckle", "bloom fell", "cat 

 clover," "crow's toes", "cross toes", "sheep-foot", "shoes and 

 stockings", "bird's e}e" and "ladies fingers." The "prairie 

 clovers" are found in the genus Fctalosteniuin. The common 

 name is fairly appropiate, for the species when in flower ra- 

 ther closely resemble clovers. In addition to the general 

 name, P. candidum is known as "white tassel flower". P. 

 purpv.rcuiu is the "red tassel flower" the "tassel", be it known 

 alluding to the elongated spikes of flowers. After the petals 

 have fallen, the close-set seed-pods give the plants the name 

 of "thimble weed". 



Among the more curious of the legumes are the species 

 of Amorpha whose flowers can boast of only a single petal. 

 A. canescens is commonly known as "lead plant", because, 

 according to Wood it grows near lead ore. Others say the 

 name is not from any connection with the metal but because 

 its densely downy leaves give it a hoary appearance which by 

 a great stretch of imagination might be considered to be lead- 

 colored. Other names are "lead-wort" and "wild tea". 

 Since the plant is not used for tea it is conjectured that "wild 

 pea" may be intended by the latter name. "Shoestrings" 

 is a term that refers to the long and slender, but strong, roots. 

 Amorpha fruticosa, a taller species, is "lead plant", "river lo- 

 cust" and "false indigo." The locust-like leaves and the 



