242 PLANT NAMES AND SYNONYMS 



d. M. satira L. Central Asia, now widely naturalized. Lucerne, 

 Alfalfa v»pplit^ particularly to the Perurian variety), Brazilian 

 or Burgundy Clover, Chilian or Spanish Clover. Dutch Clover, 

 Snail Clover, Burgundv-hay, Great or Spanish Trefoil: Holy- 

 hay, Luciferi. Purple Medic (England). 



12i>2. MEEHANLi, Britton. Meehania. Labiatae. 



Named tor Thomas Meehan, botanist, Philadelphia. Syn. 

 Pracocephalum, Cedronella, in part. Herb with large blue 

 flowers in secund spikes. One species, southeastern U. S. 



1293. MEG-iPTERIUM, Spach. Primrose* Onasrraceae. 



From Greek, ' "large winged' ' , alluding to the ovary. Syn. 

 Oenothera, in part. Perennial herbs with large yellow flowers. 

 Three known species, all of southwestern U. S. and Mexico. 



1294. MEIBOMIA, Adans. 1763. Tick-Trefoil. Papilionaeeae. 



Named for Dr. Brandus Meibom. d. 1740. Syn. Desmodium, 

 Desv. IS 13: Hedysarum. in part. Herbs, some suflrutescent; 

 fruit a loment, the segments of which adhere to clothing. 

 About 160 species, America, Africa and Australia: 3S in L'. S. 



a, M. Canadensis (L) Kze. (Hedysarum Canadense L., Desmo- 



dium Canadense DC.) Canada and eastern U. S., Canadian or 

 Showy Tick-trefoil, Beggar's- lice. Beggar-ticks; these names 

 applied to other species also. A few of the numerous species are 

 useful fodder plants, popularly called Clover or Lucerne. 



b. M. grjrans (L. f. '» Lyons (D. gyrans DC, H. gyransL. f. ). 



India and cult, for curiosity. Telegraph plant. Semaphore 

 plant. Moving plant. Remarkable for active spontaneous move- 

 ments of the leaflets. 



XELALEUCl. seeCAJUPUTL 



1295. MEL.OLPODIUM, L. Melampodium. Compositae. 



The Greek name of Black Hellebore, "black foot", in no way 

 applicable to these plants. Herbs, some shrubby. About 25 

 species, warmer regions of America; 4 in U. S. 



1296. MELAMFYRUM. L. Cow- Wheat Scrophulariaceae. 



The Greek name, meaning 'black wheat". Annual herbs. 

 About 10 species,' northern hemisphere; 2 in V. S. ; Ger. 

 Wachtelweizen; Fr. Melampyre. 



a. M. arvense L. Europe. Cow-wheat, Horse-flower, Mother- 

 of-wheat. Poverty-weed. Seeds reputed aphrodisiac. Similar 

 properties are ascribed to (b) M. sylTaticiun L. of Europe, 

 Horse-flower. Root of the latter reputed diuretic. 



1297. MELAMHERA. Kohr. (Melananthera). Compositae. 

 From Greek, "black anthered". Suflfrutescent herbs with 



discoid flower heads. About 9 species, warmer r^ions of 

 America, some African: 3 in U. S. 



1298. ME LAM Him. L. Melanthium. Melanthaeeae. 



From Greek, "black flower.'' Perennial herbs from thick 

 j-kizomes. Three known species, all in eastern U. S. 



