38 Pulse (Leguminbscz). [No. 7 



(i) Genus DESMODIUM, Desv. Meibomia (L.), Kuntz. 

 Fig. 1 6. Smooth Bush-Trefoil. D. humifiisum, Beck. 



This species closely resembles the next (D. rotundi- 

 folium), excepting that it is nearly smooth throughout, 

 with leaves that are oval to egg-shape, and with smaller 

 and narrow and less persistent stipules and stipels. It is 

 found in dry, sandy soil in Maine, and from Pennsylvania 

 to Maryland. It sometimes reaches a length of eight feet. 



Fig. 17. Bush-Trefoil. Tick-Trefoil. D. rotundifolium, D. C. 



Flowers, in clusters, axillary or terminal, of few blossoms, 

 purple ; standard, reverse egg-shape ; wings, attached 

 to the keel by a slight band. Calyx, five-cleft, more 

 or less two-lipped, with its lobes longer than the tube. 

 Stamens, in two sets (nine united toward the base, 

 and one distinct). August. 



Leaves, compound, alternate. Leaflets, three, rounded, 

 hairy on both sides, one to two inches across, with 

 stems and stipels ; edges entire. Stipules, conspicu- 

 ous, persistent, egg-shape, pointed. Leaf-stem, hairy. 



Pod, flattened, two- to six-jointed, deeply lobed on the 

 edges, somewhat as in Fig. 16, on a short stalk, very 

 adhesive with its covering of small hooked hairs. 

 Seeds, one in each joint. A loment. 



Found, in dry open woods from Florida to New England 

 and westward. 



A prostrate vine, herbaceous, hairy, two to four feet 

 long. 



