552 MANUAL OF POISONOUS PLANTS 



standard, obtuse keel, free from the stamen tube ; stamens diadelphous ; pod 

 wrinkled, straight, ovoid or globose 1-2-seeded. A small genus of 20 species, 

 native to Europe, Africa and Asia. 3 species naturalized, found in North 

 America, 2 of them quite weedy. 



Melilotus alba Der. Sweet Clover 



An erect annual or biennial from 2-4 feet high; rather distant, compound 

 leaves, leaflets obovate, oblong, obtuse, serrate, narrowed at the base, truncate, 

 emarginate or rounded at the apex; flowers with white petals, small, fragrant; 

 pod ovoid, reticulated and smooth. 



Distribution. Abundant in waste places in the eastern and Atlantic states, 

 also in the southern states and throughout the Mississippi valley, the Rocky 

 Mountain region and the Pacific coast. Sweet clover is one of the most common 

 weeds in pastures, and along roadsides. 



Melilotus officinalis (L.) Lam. Wild Yellow Sweet Clover 



An upright, yellow flowered herb from 1-4 feet high; leaflets oblong, or 

 oval, the apex more or less obtuse; corolla yellow; pod with irregularly reti- 

 culated veins. 



Distribution. Common in waste places in the irrigated districts of the west, 

 becoming more or less common in the Mississippi Valley and along the Atlantic 

 Coast. 



Melilotus indica (L.) All. Sweet Clover 



An upright annual like the preceding, but with much smaller yellow flowers. 



Distribution. Native to Europe, introduced in ballast along the Atlantic 

 coast and abundant on the Pacific coast. 



Poisonous properties. The sweet clovers contain the substance cumarin 

 C 9 H g O 2 , which is found in the Tonka bean, sweet vernal grass, vanilla grass, 

 etc. In Europe the sweet clover is suspected of being poisonous. This plant is 

 used as a forage plant in the South, and Mr. Cohagen of Iowa, has had ex- 

 cellent results in feeding this plant to stock. Its protein content is equal 

 to that of alfalfa. It is probable that some forms are entirely inert. Some 

 years ago, the writer conducted an experiment in feeding, considerable quanti- 

 ties of sweet clover, but without any injurious symptoms resulting. A tincture 

 prepared by mixing the fresh flowers with alcohol has a vanilla-like odor, and 

 a bitter taste. Dr. Millspaugh states that in large doses, cumarin causes nausea, 

 vomiting, vertigo, great depression of the heart's action, and cold extremities. 

 Dr. Schaffner states that both of the sweet clovers are objectionable in wheat, 

 because of the foul odor the seed imparts to the flowers. According to Fried- 

 berger and Frohner sweet clover causes paralysis of the muscles. Dr. MacOwen 

 states that in New South Wales, the M. indica is said to cause paralysis of 

 horses. 



10. Medicago L. Medick, Alfalfa 



Herbs with pinnately 3-foliolate leaves; leaflets dentate toothed; flowers 

 small, yellow or violet in axillary racemes or heads ; calyx teeth short nearly 

 equal; standard obovate or oblong; stamens diadelphous; ovary 1-ovuled; pod 

 curved or spirally twisted, indehiscent 1-few seeded. About 50 species native 

 to Europe and Asia. Bur clover (Medicago hispida) and hop clover or black 



