90 Li;t;i MiNO-SiE. (pulse family.) 



stipules lincar-subuhitc, elongated, adnate below to the petioles ; racemes erect, 

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

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

 April. — Stems 10-2° long. Leaves (with tiie petiole) ti'-8' long. 



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

 trate or eix'ct, niiich branched ; leaves simple, oblong or obovate, obtuse, shoit- 

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

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

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

 Leaves 2' - 4' long. 



3. MEDICAGO, L. 



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

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

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

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

 Flowers yellow, in axillary spikes. 



1. M. lupulina, L. Pubescent ; stem procunil)cnt ; leaflets obovate, 

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

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

 ward. Introduced, (l) — Stem 1° -2° long. 



4. MELILOTUS, Toum. Mklilot. Swkkt Clovkk. 



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

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

 veiny or rugose, longer than the calyx, 1 - 4-seedc(l, scarcely dehiscent. — 

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

 the petioles. Flowers yellow or white, in axillary racemes. 



1. M. officinalis, AVilld. Stem erect, branching ; leaflets obovate-oblong, 

 tootbe<l ; flowers yellow ; vcxillum 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-seeded. 



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

 rate ; racemes elongated ; flowers white ; vcxillum longer than tlic wings and keel ; 

 legumes ovate, riigose, 1 -seeded. (;M. leucantha, Koch.) — Cultivated grounds. 

 Introduced. Q — Legumes droo])ing. 



5. TRIFOLIUM, L. Ci.ovku. 



Calyx .')-cleft ; the teeth subulate or setaceous. Corolla withering or ])crsist- 

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

 mens diadelphous (9 & 1). Legiuno smooth, uunibranaceous, 1-G-seeded, often 

 shorter than the calyx, scarcely dehiscent. — Tufted or difliise bcrlw. Loaves 

 trifoliolate, the leaflets mostly toothed. Stipules udnalu lu ilie petioles. Flow- 

 ers (in our species) capitate. 



