LEGUMES 



LEITNERIA 



1835 



In view of these facts, it is evident that for the most 

 successful growth of alfulfa, clover, vetch, and other 

 legume crops, the proper organisms should be abun- 

 dantly present in the soil. Certain localities are so sup- 

 plied, as, for example, southern regions, which contain 

 the cowpea organism naturally, and sections of the 

 Middle West, which usually are inoculated with 

 alfalfa organisms. Introducing new kinds of legumi- 

 nous crops into a locality requires the introduction also 

 of the proper bacteria for the legume selected, and this 

 is best accomplished by either of the following methods 

 of artificial inoculation: 



When a field is known to be well inoculated for a 

 certain legume crop — for example, alfalfa — as indi- 

 cated by the presence of numerous nodules upon the 

 roots of alfalfa plants growing therein, such soil is 

 very desirable for the inoculation of other fields on the 

 same farm or on nearby farms upon 

 which alfalfa is to be sown for the 

 first time. Two hundred pounds or 

 more of sifted field-soil are sufficient 

 for an acre. Transferring field-soil 

 from any considerable distance is, 

 however, expensive and subject to 

 the danger of introducing trouble- 

 some weeds, insects, and plant 

 diseases. 



Another method is that of seed- 

 inoculation by means of pure cul- 

 tures. For many years the United 

 States Department of Agriculture 

 has cultivated and distributed 

 liquid pure cultures of the bac- 

 teria beneficial to legume crops, 

 and commercial organizations have 

 produced and sold various types 

 of cultures with more or less suc- 

 cessful results. The seeds to be 

 treated are placed in a clean bucket, 

 pail, or tub and a pure culture 

 of these beneficial bacteria is ap- 

 plied a little at a time, thoroughly 

 stirring the seeds in order to form 

 a thin, moist coating of the culture 

 on every seed. 



A comparison of the nitrogen- 

 fixing nodules found upon the 

 roots of different plants is interests 

 ing. The nodules are in reality 

 roots or rootlets which, because of 

 the presence of the nitrogen-fixing 

 bacteria within their cells, have 

 developed abnormally to form the 

 characteristic swollen root tubercles 

 or nitrogen-gathering nodules in- 

 stead of the ordinary form of root 

 (Fig. 2127). It is to be expected, 

 as each kind of plant has a slightly 

 different root - development, that 

 the root-nodules will flevelop in a 

 correspondingly typical manner. In 

 fact, the nitrogen-fixing root-nodule 

 of any kind of plant is almost as 

 definite and characteristic for that 

 plant as the shape of the leaves or 

 the arrangement of the leaves on 

 the stem. Karl F. Kellerman. 



LEIOCHlLUS: Oncidium. 



LEIOPH'i^LLUM (from leios, 

 smooth and phyllon; referring to 

 the smooth fohage). Kyn., Den- 

 im. Nodules on driuin, AmmyTsine Erimc,-^'. Sand 

 the roots of a young Myrtle. Ornamental shrubs grown 

 plant of garden pea. for their handsome evergreen foli- 



age and the profusely produced small white flowers, 

 although not much grown. 



Densely branched shrubs, low and sometimes pro- 

 cumbent: Ivs. opposite or alternate, crowded, small, 

 short-petioled, entire: fls. in terminal, umbelliform 

 corymbs; sepals and petals 5; stamens 10; anther- 

 cells opening lengthwise; disk 10-lobed: fr. a 2-5-ceUed 



2128. An indehiscent or slowly dehiscent leguminous 

 pod — Daubentonia. 



dehiscent many-seeded caps. — One species in E. N. 

 Amer. from N. J. to Fla.; allied to Ledum, but the 

 anther-cells opening lengthwise. 



The sand myrtles resemble in appearance somewhat 

 the dwarf box and are quite handsome when studded 

 late in spring with the numerous umbels of small white 

 or pinkish flowers. They are hardy or nearly hardy 

 North and well adapted for borders of evergreen shrub- 

 beries and also for rockeries. They thrive best in a 

 peaty or very sandy, loamy soil and as well in a sunny 

 as in a partly shaded position. Propagated by seeds 

 sown in pans and placed in a cool frame or by layers 

 put down in fall. 



buxifolium, Ell. {Ledum buxifolium, Berg. Dendrium 

 huxifolium, Desv.). Fig. 2129. Dense, leafy bush, to 3 ft. 

 high: Ivs. short-petioled, thick, oval or obovate, i4-]/im. 

 long: fls. white, pinkish outside, about }'im. across, on 

 slender pedicels; petals elliptic, almost twice as long as 

 sepals; stamens usually twice as long as petals: caps, 

 about thrice as long as sepals. April-June. Pine-bar- 

 rens and mountains, N. J. to Fla. B.M. 6752. Gn. 42, 

 p. 559. B.R. 531. L.B.C.1:.52 (as Ledum). Var. 

 Hiigeri, Schneid. (Dendrium Hugeri, Small). Lvs. 

 alternate, }^-3^2in- long: stamens about as long as 

 petals: caps, about twice as long as sepals. High 

 mountains of N. C. Var. prostratum, Gray (Den- 

 drium proslratum, Small). Forming dense depressed 

 tufts: lv8. usually oval, and deep green, very small, 

 mostly opposite. High mountains of N. C. and Tenn. 



Alfred Rehder. 



LEITNERIA (after 

 Leitner, a German 

 naturalist, killed in Fla. 

 during the Seminole 

 war). Leitneriaccse. 

 Cork Wood. A small 

 tree or shrub, the only 

 representative of the 

 family which is most 

 nearly related to the 

 Myricacea; and Sali- 

 cacea;; sparingly 

 branched, the sts. 

 swollen at the base, 

 spreading by suckers: 

 lvs. alternate, entire, 

 rather large, without 

 stipules: fls. dicecious 



in axillary catkins be- _ 



fore the lvs. ; staminate 2129. Leiophyllum buxifolium. ( X %) 



