Wild Flowers East of the Rockies 175 



ALSIKE or ALSATIAN CLOVER (Trifolium hy- 

 bridum) (EUROPEAN) is quite similar to our native 

 white Clover, but the stem is stout, branching and 

 juicy. The trifoliate leaves of this species are un- 

 marked and have a simple, rounded end, not notched, 

 but the edge of the leaf is very finely toothed; they 

 have long slender stems, with stipules where they 

 join the stalk. The florets composing the round 

 flower-heads are cream-colored, tinged with pink; 

 they are very fragrant and laden with nectar. The low- 

 er florets on the head bloom first; after they have 

 been fertilized, they turn brown, and are reflexed, so 

 that towards the end of the flowering season, the 

 flowers have a very disheveled appearance, the lower 

 part being dead and drooping, while the upper is 

 fresh, pink and erect. 



This species is now common throughout our range, 

 flowering from May to October in meadows, waste 

 places or along roadsides. 



WHITE CLOVER (Trifolium repens) is the most 

 common of the white clovers. It is supposed to be 

 indigenous in the northern parts of our range. It 

 is highly prized as forage for cattle and is often cul- 

 tivated in fields for that purpose. It is also a fav- 

 orite with keepers of bees, for it is very rich in nec- 

 tar and they claim that it makes a better quality of 

 honey than any other. 



Its stems are smooth, reclining and 4 to 10 inches 

 long; they creep by runners. The leaves are com- 

 posed of three leaflets, heart-shaped or notched at the 

 ends, and usually with a more or less distinct tri- 

 angular mark in the middle. This is the species that 

 furnishes the prized "4-leaved clovers" that children 

 so dearly love to find, and that are supposed to sig- 

 nify "good luck". The flowers are creamy white, 

 slightly pinkish and very fragrant. 



