182 SPECIES OF THE GENUS MELILOTUS—LAWSON. 
The Trifolium Melilotus offiernalis of Linnzeus’s Species 
Plantarum included three well defined forms that are now re- 
garded by botanists as well-established species, viz: 
1. The type, or normal form, which appears to have been long 
known in France and other parts of Southern Europe, although 
a comparatively recent, addition to the British Flora, having 
been found in England for the first time about the year 1849 or 
1850, and shortly afterwards im Scotland. It has been known 
to English botanists hitherto, mostly, as M/. arvensis, Wallroth, but: 
now appears in Sir Joseph Hooker's Student’s Flora (edition of 
1884) as M. orFICINALIS Desrousseawux, although not the officin- 
alis of Willdenow, so commonly quoted by authors. 
2. Linnzus’s variety 6, variously named by authors. T'rifo- 
lium Germanicum, Smith; M: vulgaris, Willdenow ; M. leucan- 
tha, Koch; M. ALBA, Desrousseaux. 
3. The variety g, which has been recorded as a native and 
not rare British plant ever since the time of Ray, and which 
was known during the latter part of last and early part of the. 
present century as Trzfoliwm, officinale, Hull, subsequently as 
Melilotus officinalis, Willdenow, and is now recognized as M. 
ALTISSIMA, Thuillier. 
Of the above mentioned three species, two have hitherto been. 
credited to Canada, viz: M. alba, Desr., and M. altissima, Thuil- 
lier. Respecting WM. alba there is no question, It isa well known 
plant. It appears to be doubtful, however, whether MM. altis-. 
sima is established as a Canadian species, although it is so very 
eommon in Britain. All the Canadian yellow-flowered specimens 
of Melilotus that have reached ime, so far, belong to M. officinalis, 
Desr., not M. officinalis Willd. Whether the United States plant is 
M. altissima or M. officinalis, 1 have not ascertained. Possibly 
we may have both species on this continent, but the only cer- 
tainty in the matter is that we do not as yet know the distribu- 
tion of either. 
1, MELILOTUS OFFICINALIS, Desrousseaua. 
This species, although, like the others, variable in size, habit 
and duration, being sometimes an annual, but usually a 
