90 LEGUMIXOS.E. (PULSE FAMILY.) 



stipules Linear-subulate, elongated, adnate below to the petioles ; racemes erect, 

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

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

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



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

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

 petiokd ; stipules short, often wanting on the branches ; racemes many-flowcrcd ; 

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

 sand-ridges, Florida to North Carolina. April and May. — Steins 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 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-sceded, black. — "Waste places, Florida and north- 

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



4. MELILOTUS, Tourn. Melilot. Swekt Clover. 



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

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

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

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

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



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



toothed; flowers yellow ; vcxillum striped with brown, as long as the keel and 

 wings ; legume obovate, rugose. — Cultivated ground. Introduced, (l) and @ 

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



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

 rate; racemes elongated ; flowers white ; vcxillum longer than the w ings and keel ; 

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

 Introduced. — Legumes drooping. 



5. TRirOLIUM, L. Clover. 

 Calyx 5-clefl ; the teeth subulate or setaceous. Corolla withering or persi ! 



cnt ; the keel shorter than the Wings, anil united with them by their claws. Sta- 



mens diadelphous (9 &, i). Legume Bmooth, membranaceous, l -(".-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 (ill our species) capitate. 



