february 28, 1913 
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C2 
to doubt whether the visits of insects could increase the produc- 
tion of seed in this group. On the other hand, an exceedingly 
robust plant of the European 7rzfolium pannonicum, the Hun- 
garian clover, failed to produce a single seed under like condi- 
tions. 
We expect to be able to show great differences 1n the vari- 
ous groups of clovers in the manner of pollination and the pro- 
duction of seed. Some groups other than this one also produce 
seed abundantly without the aid of insects. That the seed pro- 
duced by self fertilization is good there can be no doubt, as in 
some instances the flower heads have touched moist sand and 
the seeds have germinated while still inclosed in the pods and 
attached to the living plant. 
With most of the native perennial clovers, however, insects 
seein to be necessary. This feature will be taken up as each 
group is treated, so for the present we desire to report conclu- 
sively only upon the American species of this group. 
SEEDS 
The seeds of the different species of American clovers have 
been almost entirely neglected in the descriptions. We have 
reviewed the hundred or more descriptions, and find the seed 
rarely mentioned, the description usually ending with the num- 
ber of seeds in the legume. The more recent literature seems 
to err to a greater extent in this particular than the earlier. 
The most complete description of the seed of a Trifolium that 
we have found is in connection with the Mexican species, 7; 
amabile H. B. K. in Kunth, Nova Genera and Species Plau- 
tarum 6: 503. A. 593. It is as follows; ‘“\Semzna (fig. 16-18) 
podosperimis brevissimus suspensa, subrotunda, compressiuscula 
laevia, fusca, glabra, opaca, magnitudine grani majoris papav- 
eris vel (in leguminibus monospermis) dup‘o majora, hilo parvo 
marginali et sub hoc macula oblonga costanea notata.  I[ntegu- 
mentum simplex, membranaceum, interne endospermio tenui 
gelatinoso hyalino vestitum. mdryo (fig. 19-20) uncinatus Iu- 
tescens. Cotv/edones ellipticae plano-convexae, aequales. Rad 
tcula in extremite apicem leguminis spectante sita, intus cur- 
vata et hilum spectans, teres, acutinscula, cotvledonibus brev- 
\ 
