MAY 



S3 ?902 



THE LESPEDEZAS OF MISSOURI.* 

 K. K. Mackenzie and B. F. Bush. 



Various species of Lespedezas abound in the State of Mis- 

 souri, especially in rocky woods in the Ozark Mountain region, 

 in the southern and eastern portions. Observations in the 

 field of the various forms which occur here have convinced 

 the writers that there are several undescribed species in the 

 State, and this has led to a more extended study of the speci- 

 mens preserved in the herbarium of the Missouri Botanical 

 Garden, and of those in the herbarium of Mr. K. K. Mac- 

 kenzie. The result of this study is embodied in the following 

 notes. 



We beg to acknowledge our indebtedness to Professor Wm. 

 Trelease for the loan of the entire Missouri collection of this 

 genus in his care, and for other courtesies extended. 



As an aid to the recognition of the species occurring in 

 Missouri, the following key is offered : — 



Annual; calyx-lobes broad. 1. L. striata. 



Perennials; flowers yellow; calyx -lobes narrow. 

 Peduncles exceeding the leaves. 2. L. hirta. 



Peduncles shorter than the leaves. 

 Leaves glabrate above. 

 Leaflets oblong. 3. L. capitata. 



Leaflets linear-oblong. 4. L. capitata longifolia. 



Leaves sericeous above. 5. L. capitata sericea. 



Perennials; flowers purplish; calyx-lobes narrow. 

 Peduncles exceeding the leaves. 

 Plants prostrate and widely spreading. 



Glabrate or nearly so. 6. L. repens. 



Strongly pubescent. 7. L. procumbens. 



Plants strongly bushy-branched, from erect to slightly procumbent. 



Flowers strongly paniculate, on pedicels often 6 mm. long; larger 



leaflets 18 mm. long, or longer. 8. L. violacea. 



Flowers scarcely paniculate, on pedicels about 1.5 mm. long; leaflets 



much smaller, rarely 18 mm. long. 9. L. violacea prairea. 



* Presented and read by title before The Academy of Science of St. 

 Louis, December 16, 1901. 



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