90 l,i:(.l .MIN(»S.K. (iTLSK FAMILY.) 



stipuk's Iim:ir-sul)iiliitt', I'loii^iattil, ndnatc lulow to tlif jK'tiolcs ; nicenK's erect, 

 densely niimy-Howeivil ; tiowers pale red, tlic vexillum dark juirplc in the 

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

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



.'J. L. diflfusus, Niitt. Perennial ; silky-tonientosc and hoary ; stems pros- 

 trate or erect, nimh branched ; leaves simple, oblong or obovate, obtuse, shoit- 

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

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

 sand-ridges, FIori<la 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. Vexillum 

 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 shridjs. Leaves trifoliolate. Stipules adnatc to the jictioles, mostly incisetl. 

 Flowers yellow, in axillary spikes. 



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

 toothed ; sti])ules nearly entire ; spikes globose, niany-flowcrcd ; flowers mi- 

 nute ; legumes reniform, 1-secded, l)lack. — Waste ))l:ues, Florida and north- 

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



4. MELILOTUG, Toum. Mklii.ot. Swkkt Clovku. 



Calyx .')-toothed ; tlic tei-th long and equal. Corullu deciduous. Wings and 

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

 vein}' or rugose, longer than the calyx, 1-4-sceded, scarcely dehiscent. — 

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

 the petioles. Flowers yellow or wliite, in axillary i-acemes. 



1. M. oCcinalis, Willd. Stem erect, brandling; leaflets ol)ov.nte-oblong, 

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

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

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



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

 rate ; racemes elongated ; flowers white ; vexillum longer than the wings and keel ; 

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

 Introduced. ^^ — Legumes drooping. 



5. TRIFOLIUM, L. Ci.ovii:. 



Calyx .i-cleft ; the teeth subidatc or setaceous. Corolla withering 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 diff'usc herbs. Leaves 

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

 ers (in our species) capitate. 



