66 DIALTPETALOUS EXOGENS 



102. MEDICA X GO, Tournef. 



[So named by the Greeks, from having been brought from Media.] 

 Flowers nearly as in Melilotus : Legume 1- or several-seeded, of va- 

 rious forms but always more or less falcate, or spirally coiled. 



1. M. SATI V VA ? L. Stem erect, smoothish; leaflets obovate-oblong, 

 dentate ; stipules lanceolate, nearly entire ; racemes oblong ; legumes 

 spirally twisted, several-seeded. 



CULTIVATED MEDICAGO. Lucerne. Spanish Trefoil, French Clover. 



Perennial. Stem about 2 feet high, branched, hard and wiry. Leaflets half an 

 inch to an inch long, the terminal one petiolulate; common petioles % an inch to 

 an inch in length. Racemes erect, on axillary peduncles which are about as long 

 as the common petioles. Flowers violet-purple. 

 Hob. Fields, and lots. Nat. of Spain. Fl. June. Fr. Aug. 



Obs. This is partially naturalized, in some spots, and is cultiva- 

 ted, occasionally, on a small scale ; but it does not find much favor, 

 in the eyes of our farmers. 



2. M. lupulina, L. Stem procumbent, pilose; leaflets cuneate- 

 obovate, denticulate at apex; stipules ovate-lanceolate, mostly 

 dentate; racemes capitate, ovoid; legumes reniform, 1-seeded. 

 HOP-LIKE MEDICAGO. None-such. 



Biennial ? Stem 6 to 12 inches long, somewhat branched, mostly several from 

 the same root. Leaflets % an inch to near an inch long, sometimes nearly rhom- 

 boid ; common petioles % of an inch to an inch in length. Heads of flowers at first 

 roundish, finally oblong, on slender peduncles 1 to 2 inches long. Corolla yellow, 

 small. 

 Hob. Fields, &c. Nat. of Europe. Fl. June. Fr. Aug. 



Obs. Mr. VINCENT BARNARD informs me, this is naturalized in 

 clover-fields, near Marlborough-ville ; but it is yet rare, in the 

 County. 



SUBTRIBE 8. GENIS'TEAE. 



Leaves simple, or digitately 3- to 15-fo3iolate ; stamens monadelphous ; anthers ot 2 

 forms. 



103. CROTAL,A V RIA, L. 



[Gr. Krotalon, a rattle; the seeds rattling in the ripe pods.] 

 Calyx 5-parted, sub-bilabiate. Vexillum obcordate, large ; keel 

 falcate. Sheath of monadelphous stamens often slit on the upper 

 side ; 5 of the anthers smaller and roundish. Legume turgid, stipi- 

 tate, mostly many-seeded. Herbs, in U. S. Leaves simple. 



1. C. sagittalis, L. Hairy; leaves oblong-lanceolate, subsessile; 

 stipules united, decurrent, sagittate at summit; peduncles few- 

 flowered. 

 ARROW-LIKE CROTALARIA. Rattle-box. 



Annual. Stem 4 to 8 or 10 inches high, somewhat branched above. Leaves half 

 an inch to 2 inches long, the lower ones elliptic-lanceolate, the upper sub-linear. 

 Racemes mostly opposite the leaves, pedunculate, 2- to 4-flowered ; flowers yellow. 

 Legumes about an inch long, inflated, finally dry and parchment-like, turning 

 nearly black. 

 Hab. Sandy banks; roadsides, &c.: frequent. .FZJuly. Fr. Aug. 



