190 Report of the Botanical Department of the 



a large percentage of these naked Jolinson grass seeds will pro- 

 duce vigorous sprouts. It is possible, therefore, that this plant 

 maj become established in New York State by means of alfalfa 

 seed containing it. 



NEW SEEDS EECENTLY OBSERVED IN ALE ALFA 



SEED. 



In making our seed tests we occasionally meet with foreign 

 seeds which are new to us and which we are unable to identify. 

 These seeds most frequently occur in seed that has been imported 

 into the LTnited States from foreign countries. Seeds of this kind 

 more often occur in alfalfa seed, and during the past year several 

 such seeds unknown to us have been recorded in alfalfa seed 

 samples. Such seeds may prove to be troublesome weeds when 

 once established in this State and it is, therefore, important to 

 learn their nature and habits at the outset so that if they prove to 

 belong to the noxious class, farmers may be warned against them. 

 For these reasons, attention is called to the following three plants, 

 the seeds of which we have observed and recorded for the first time 

 as occurring in alfalfa seed. The writer is indebted to Miss 

 Emma Sirrine of the United States Department of Agriculture 

 for the identification of these seeds and to Dr. N. L. Britton of the 

 New York Botanical Garden for the identification of plants of 

 Trianthema monogyna which were grown in the Station green 

 house from seed collected in alfalfa samples sent to us for analysis. 



Trianthema monogyna L. 

 The seeds of this plant were observed in 2G different alfalfa 

 samples. It is a low-growing, procumbent, somewhat succulent 

 herb, the general appearance of which suggests the common garden 

 purslane. It belongs to the family Aizoaceae which is closely re- 

 lated to the Portulacaceae, the family to which purslane belongs. 

 The genus Triantlieyna, is chiefly made up of tropical or sub-trop- 

 ical herbs; T. inonogyrm being the only American species. Dr. 

 Britton informs us that .he is quite familiar with it as a weed in 



