320 



PAPILIONACEAE. 



[Vox,. II. 



Meibomia Canadensis (L,.) Kuntze. Canadian or Showy Tick-trefoil. 



(Fig. 2188.) 



Hedysarum Canadense L. Sp. PI. 748. 1753. 

 Desmodium Canadense DC. Prodr. a: 328. 1825. 

 Meibomia Canadensis Kuntze, Rev. Gen. PI. 195. 



1891. 



Erect, stout, pubescent, 2-8 high. Stipules 

 linear-lanceolate, mostly persistent; lower peti- 

 oles */i'-\ f long, the upper leaves nearly sessile; 

 leaflets oblong or lanceolate-oblong, obtuse, gla- 

 brous or roughish above, appressed-pubescent 

 beneath; racemes terminal, densely panicled; 

 flowers large, 5"-S" long, conspicuous, pur- 

 ple or bluish-purple; bracts ovate-lanceolate, 

 acute, ciliate, at length deciduous; calyx-lobes 

 attenuate, the upper 2-toothed, the lower ones 

 elongated; lomcnt nearly sessile in the calyx, 

 about i' long, 3-5-jointed ; joints triangular, 

 straight or convex on back, uncinate-pubescent. 



Thickets and river-banks, New Brunswick to. 

 Manitoba and Dakota, south to North Carolina, 

 Missouri and the Indian Territory. Our most showy- 

 flowered species. July-Sept. 



20. Meibomia rigida (Ell.) KUIU/L-. 

 Rigid Tick-trefoil. (Fig. 2189.) 



Hedysarum figidum Ell. Bot. S. C. and Ga. a: 



215. 1824. 



Desmodium rffUum DC. Prodr. a: 330. 1825. 

 Meibomia rigida Kunt/.e, Rev. Gen. PI. 198. 1891. 



Erect, rather rigid, finely uncinate-pubes- 

 cent, 2-3 high. Stipules small, lanceolate, 

 deciduous; leaves petioled; leaflets ovate or 

 oval, obtuse, thickish, scabrous above, pubes- 

 cent, especially along the veins beneath, i'-2' 

 long; racemes terminal, compound; flowers 

 very small, \"-i" long, purplish; upper lobe of 

 the calyx entire or minutely 2-toothed, the 3 

 lower ones slender; loment sessile in the calyx, 

 i-3-jointed, the joints obliquely ovate, rounded 

 on the back, uncinate-pubescent, about i%" 

 long. 



In dry soil, Massachusetts to Florida, west to 

 Michigan, Nebraska and Louisiana. July-Oct. 



21. Meibomia Marylandica (L.) Kuntze. 

 Smooth Small-leaved Tick-trefoil. (Fig. 2190.) 



Hedysarum Marylandicum L. Sp. PI. 748. 1753. 

 Desmodium Marvlandiciim Boott; Darl. Fl. Cestr. 412. 



1837. 

 Meibomia Marylandica Kuntze, Rev. Gen. PI. 198. 1891. 



Erect or ascending, glabrous, rarely with a few 

 scattered hairs, 2-3 high. Stipules subulate, decid- 

 uous or persistent; petioles 3 // -6 // long; leaves 

 crowded; leaflets $"-11" long, ovate or nearly orbi- 

 cular, obtuse, glabrous on both sides, the lateral often 

 subcordate; upper lobe of the calyx emarginate or mi- 

 nutely 2-toothed; racemes panicled; corolla purplish, 

 very small, \"-i" long; lotnent sessile in the calyx 

 or nearly so, i-3-jointcd, the joints small, obliquely 

 oval or semi- orbicular. 



In dry soil and in copses, Ontario to Massachusetts, 

 Florida, Michigan and Louisiana. July-Sept. 



