998 



MEDICAGO 



pods slightly pubescent, with two or three spirals. Eu. 

 Now widely cult., particularly in dry regions, as a 

 hay and pasture, being to the West what red clover is 

 to the Northeast. See Alfalfa. A hardier and drought- 

 resisting race (known as var. Turkestanica, Hort. ) was 

 introduced from central Asia in 1898 by N. E. Hansen, 



1383. Medeola Virginiana, the Indian Cucumber Root. 

 (X%.) (Seep. 997.) 



under the auspices of the U. S. Dept. Agric. (see Han- 

 sen, Amer. Aerie. Feb. 24, 1900; Circular 25, Division of 

 Agrostology, U. S. Dept. Agric.). 



AA. Fls. yellow. 



B. Plant annual and herbaceous. 

 lupullna, Linn. BLACK or HOP MEDICK. NONESUCH. 

 Diffuse, the branches often rooting and becoming 2-3 

 ft. long, deep-rooted, and difficult to pull up: plant gla- 



1384. Medicago sativa Al 



(XX.) 



MEDINILLA 



brous or slightly pubescent : Ifts. oval to orbicular 

 toothed: stipules broad and toothed: fls. small, light 

 yellow, in pedunculate heads : fr. nearly glabrous 

 spiral, becoming black. Eu. Extensively naturalized! 

 Has the appearance of 

 a clover. The yellow 

 clovers with which it 

 is likely to be con- 

 founded have larger 

 heads, which soon be- 

 come dry and papery, 

 and the stipules are en- 

 tire. It is sometimes 

 used as a forage or hay 

 plant. Of no ornamen- 

 tal value. 



prostrata.Jacq. Stem 

 prostrate: Ifts. linear, 

 dentate at the apex: 

 stipules linear - subu- 

 late: pod glabrous, spi- 

 rally contorted, 2- 

 seeded, black. S. Eu. 

 Advertised as an or- 

 namental plant. M.ele- 

 gans, a name for a low, 

 yellow-fld. species, is 

 also in the trade; it 

 may be any one of 4 or 

 5 species. 



scutellata, Mill. SNAILS. Erect or spreading, soft- 

 pubescent: Ifts. broadly obovate or the upper ones 

 broadly oblong, prominently toothed: stipules falcate, 

 toothed at the base: fls. small, solitary or nearly so: 

 pod large and prominently reticulated, % in. across, 

 like a snail shell. Eu. Grown for the odd snail-like 

 pods, which are used as surprises. See the article Cat- 

 erpillars and Worms. 



BB. Plant perennial and woody. 

 arborea, Linn. TREE ALFALFA. MOON TREFOIL. Two 

 to 8 ft. tall, with hard black wood: Ifts. oval to obovate, 

 light green, toothed at the top : stipules linear-acute, 

 entire: fls. orange-yellow, in rather loose, axillary, pe- 

 duncled clusters: pod spiral, 2-3-seeded. S. Eu. L.B.C. 

 14:1379. Offered as an ornamental plant in S. Calif. 



L. H. B. 

 MEDICK. See Medicago. 



MEDINILLA (after Jose" de Medinilla y Pineda, 

 governor of the Ladrones). Melastomacece. A genus of 

 98 species of tropical plants, mostly from the East 

 Indies and Pacific islands. M. magnifica is one of th( 

 most gorgeous tropical plants in cultivation, and one 

 the most desirable for amateurs who have hothouses 

 It is a native of the Philippines. It has handsor 

 broad, shining, leathery foliage and coral-red, 5-petal< 

 fls., each about 1 in. across, which are borne in pendi 

 lous pyramidal panicles sometimes a foot long, an 

 bearing 100-150 fls. The axis and branches of the pani 

 cle are pinkish, and the same color tinges the larg< 

 showy bracts, which are sometimes 4 in. long. Hookt 

 says: "Its most beautiful state is, perhaps, before th( 

 full perfection of the fls., when the large imbricate 

 bracts begin to separate and allow the buds to be pai 

 tially seen. As the expansion of the blossoms advances 

 the upper bracts fall off, but the lower ones remain am 

 become reflexed." This truly magnificent plant flower 

 copiously when only 2 or 3 ft. high, and a large well 

 kept specimen in flower is a sight that is never to 

 forgotten. The numerous long, bent, purple anthei 

 with their yellow filaments, form an additional featui 

 of interest. 



Medinilla is distinguished from allied genera (nor 

 of which has garden value) chiefly by the curious aj 

 pendages of the stamens. The stamens are 8, 10 or li 

 the anterior connective, 2-lobed or 2-spurred, the pos- 

 terior one usually setose or 1-2-lobed or 1-spurret 

 Medinillas are branching shrubs, erect or climbing: Ivs 

 mostly opposite or whorled, entire, fleshy: fls. white 01 

 rose, with or without bracts, in panicles or cymes 

 Cogniaux in DC. Mon. Phan. 7:572-602 (1891). The 



