90 LEGIJMINOS^. (PL'LSE FAMILY.) 



Stipules linear-subulate, elongated, adnate below to the petioles ; racemes erect, 

 densely many-flowered ; flowers pale red, the vexiilum dark purple in the 

 centre ; legume very woolly. — Dry sandy barrens, Florida to North Carolina. 

 April. — Stems l°-2° long. Leaves (with the petiole) 6' -8' long. 



3. L. dififusus, Nutt. Perennial ; silky-tomentose and hoary ; stems pros- 

 trate or erect, much branched ; leaves simple, oblong or obovate, obtuse, short- 

 petioled ; stipules short, often wanting on the branches ; racemes many-flowered ; 

 flowers blue, the vexiilum dark purple in the centre ; legume woolly. — Dry 

 sand-ridges, Florida to North Carolina. April and May. — Stems 1°- 2° high. 

 Leaves 2' -4' long. 



3. MEDICAGO, L. 



Calyx 5-clcft ; the lobes subulate or setaceous. Corolla deciduous. Vexiilum 

 longer than the partly united wings and keel. Stamens 10, diadclphous (9 & 

 1), equal. Style smooth. Legume falcate or coiled, 1 -many-seeded. — Herbs 

 or shrubs. Leaves trifoliolate. Stipules adnate to the petioles, mostly incised. 

 Flowers yellow, in axillary spikes. 



1. M. lupulina, L. Pubescent ; stem procumbent ; leaflets obovate, 

 toothed ; stipules nearly entire ; spikes globose, many-flowered ; flowers mi- 

 nute ; legumes reniform, 1 -seeded, black. — AVaste places, Florida and north- 

 ward. Introduced. Q) — Stem l°-2° long. 



4. MELILOTUS, Toum. Melilot. Sweet Clover. 



Calyx 5-toothed ; the teeth long and equal. Corolla deciduous. Wings and 

 keel cohering. Stamens diadclphous (9 & 1). Legume ovoid, coriaceous, 

 veiny or rugose, longer than the calyx, 1 - 4-seeded, scarcely dehiscent. — 

 Smooth herbs. Leaves trifoliolate. Leaflets often toothed. Stipules adnate to 

 the petiok's. Flowers yellow or white, in axillary racemes. 



1. M. ofdcinalis, Willd. Stem erect, branching ; leaflets obovate-oblong, 

 tootlicd ; flowers yellow; vexiilum striped with brown, as long as the keel and 

 wings ; legume obovate, rugose. — Cultivated ground. Introduced. ® and (g) 

 — Stems l°-3° high. Legumes drooping, 2-secded. 



2. M. alba, Lam. Stem erect, branching ; leaflets oblong, truncate, ser- 

 rate; racemes elongated ; flowers white; vcxillumlonger than the wings and keel; 

 legumes ovate, rugose, 1-seeded. (M. Icucantha, Koch.) — Cultivated grounds. 

 Introduced. C — Legumes drooping. 



5. TRIFOLIUM, L. Clovku. 



Calyx 5-ckft ; the teeth sul)ulatc or setaceous. Corolla witliering or persist- 

 ent ; the keel shorter than the wings, and united with them by their claws. Sta- 

 mens diadelphous (9 & 1). Legume smooth, membranaceous, 1-6-seeded, often 

 shorter than the calyx, scarcely dehiscent. — Tufted or diffuse herbs. Leaves 

 trifoliolate, the leaflets mostly toothed. Stipules adnate to the petioles. Flow- 

 ers (in our species) capitate. 



