48 SPRING FLORA 



1. Li. laxiflorus Dougl. A perennial with erect or ascending- 

 slender stems, several from the same root; pubescence short- 

 silky. Leaflets 6-8, oblanceolate. Flowers of varying shades 

 of blue, in loose and slender racemes. Calyx saccate at base. 

 Legume silk-hairy; seeds 3-5. On dry gravelly hills. May- 

 June. 



3. TRIFOLIUM. Clover. 



Tufted herbs of various habit. Leaves palmately (sometimes 

 pinnately) mostly 3-foliate. Inflorescence capitate. Flowers 

 usually rather small. Petals persistent, adherent to the sta- 

 men-tube. Stamens diadelphous, or monadelp'hous at base. 

 Legume membranous, 1-6-seeded. 



Heads on axillary peduncles. 



Stems procumbent and creeping; stipules acute 1. T. repens 

 Stems erect or ascending; stipules acuminate 2. T. hybrldum 



Heads on terminal peduncles. 



Flowers red or pink; stipules bristle-pointed 3. T. pratense 

 Flowers whitish; stipules not bristle-pointed 4. T. longipes 



1. 1*. repens L. White or Dutch Clover. A smooth perennial, 

 rooting at the nodes. Leaflets often with a pale crescent on 

 upper surface; inversely heart-shaped or merely notched at 

 apex; obscurely toothed; stipules narrow, scale-like; petioles 

 long and slender. Heads loose, borne on very long peduncles. 

 Flowers white or rose-tinged, on rather short pedicels. Cul- 

 tivated and along 1 stream-banks as an escape. May-August. 



2. T hybridum L. Alsike Clover. A smooth perennial with 

 stems not rooting at the nodes. Leaflets without a pale spot 

 on upper surface; obovate and sometimes slightly notched at 

 the apex but not inversely heart-shaped; serrulate with sharp- 

 pointed teeth; stipules lanceolate-ovate; petioles long and 

 slender. Heads as in No. 1. Flowers rose-tinged, on short 

 pedicels. Cultivated; sometimes escaping. May-October. 



3. T. prteii.se L. Red Clover. A hairy perennial with as- 

 cending stems. Leaflets elliptical or obovate, often notched 

 at apex and marked on upper surface by a pale spot; stipules 

 broad. Heads ovoid. Flowers sessile. Calyx soft-hairy. 

 Cultivated and sometimes escaping*. 



4. T. longipes Nutt. A perennial with a slender, erect, 

 usually glabrous stem. Leaflets sparingly villous; linear to 

 narrowly oblong, serrulate. Heads ovoid. Flowers yellowish - 

 white or. purple-tinged; sessile or nearly so. Calyx-teeth 

 straight, shorter than the corolla; more or less hairy. In 

 wet alpine meadows. May-June. 



4. MEDICAGO. Medick. 



Herbs with pinnately 3-foliate leaves having minutely- 

 toothed leaflets. Inflorescence axillary. Flowers small. 

 Calyx 5-toothed. Corolla deciduous. Stamens diadelphous, 9 

 and 1. Pod 1-several-seeded; more or less coiled. 



Erect perennial; flowers blue or purple 1. M. saliva 



Procumbent annual; flowers bright yellow 2. M. lupulina 



