WILD FLOWERS white and greenish 



and irregularly constructed blossom. Of course, they 

 are necessarily greatiy reduced in size and more or less 

 modified otherwise in the Clovers, since so very many 

 are crowded on the flowering head where they are 

 known as florets. In the present species, these florets 

 are white, cream white, or frequently pinkish. They 

 are set erectly in small, five-parted, light green calyces 

 on small stemlets. As they fade, they become brown- 

 ish and husky, and turn flaringly downward, separating 

 the head for a time in two parts, the quick from the dead, 

 until finally all become reflexed, while the seeds ripen. 

 The White Clover is very common everywhere in fields 

 and along roadsides, but more so east of the one- 

 hundredth meridian. It is quite possibly a native well 

 north, as it is in Siberia. It blooms from May to Decem- 

 ber. In England it is known as Sheep's Gowan, 

 Honey Stalks and sometimes Shamrock. 



WHITE MELILOT. WHITE SWEET CLOVER. 

 HONEY-LOTUS. TREE CLOVER 



Melilotus alba. Pea Family. 



Great armfuls of the White Sweet Clover are gathered 

 annually because of the delightful fragrance of its 

 leaves, which becomes more pronounced as they dry 

 out and emit their pleasing odour in our rooms and 

 closets. I have never heard of these leaves being 

 used as a tea, but have often thought that I should like 

 to try them — their fragrance is so refreshing. The 

 dried leaves have been used like camphor, as a pre- 

 ventative for moths in packing away furs and woollens, 



267 



