Desmodium. LEGUMINOS^. 177 



§ 2. Stamens diadelpkous (the tenth stamen sometimes connected with the others near the base) ; calyx 

 2-lipped, cleft below the middle ; legume subsessile. 



3. Desmodium Canadense, DC. Canadian Desmodium. 



Stem erect, liairy, striate ; leaflets oblong-lanceolate, very much longer than the petioles ; 

 stipules lanceolate, ratlier persistent ; racemes terminal, and in the axils of the uppermost 

 leaves ; bracts ovate-lanceolate, acuminate ; calyx deeply bilabiate ; upper lip oblong, 2-cleft 

 at the point , the lower 3-parted, with lanceolate segments ; joints of the legume semiovate- 

 triangular, truncate at both ends, hispid. — DC. prodr. 2. p. 328 ; Ilook.Jl. Bor.-Am. 1. p. 154; 

 Beck, bot. p. 82; Torr. ^- Gr.fi. N. Am. l.p. 359. Hedysarum Canadense, Linn.; Willd. 

 sp. 3. p. 1187; Ton: compend. p. 267 ; Bigel. fi. Bost. p. 275. 



Stem 3-6 feet high, often branched. Leaves on comparatively short petioles (about half 

 an inch long) : leaflets 2-3 inches long, tapering to the summit but rather obtuse, strigosely 

 pubescent underneath, nearly smooth above. Racemes numerous, erect, forming a terminal 

 panicle. Bracts imbricated, of a reddish brown color, very conspicuous before the flowers are 

 expanded. Flowers rather pale violet-blue. Stamens diadelphous about half their length. 

 Legume an inch long, very hispid : joints 3-4 (sometimes 5), about two lines in diameter, 

 a little convex on the upper side, rounded and somewhat angular below. 



Borders of woods, and rather moist copses ; not rare. August - September. This species 

 can be distinguished by its tall stem, and large, rather close panicle of flowers, the bracts of 

 which are very conspicuous in the bud. 



4. Desmodium canescens, DC. Hoary Desmodium. 



Stem erect, branching, clothed with horizontal hairs, and somewhat scabrous ; leaflets ovate, 

 rather acute, scabrous-pubescent on both sides, reticulated underneath ; petiole as long as the 

 leaflets ; stipules large, obliquely ovate, acuminate ; upper lip of the calyx entire or slightly 

 bifid, the lower tooth lanceolate and longest ; legume of 4 - 6 oblong-triangular strongly hispid 

 joints. — DC. prodr. 2. p. 328 ; Beck, bot. p. 84 ; Darlingt. fi.. Cest. p. 415 ; Torr. <^ Gr. 

 ft. N. Am. 1. p. 359. D. viridiflorum, DC. I. c. D. Aikinianum, Beck, I. c. Hedysarum 

 canescens, Linn. hort. Cliff, (not of Willd.); Pursh, fi. 2. p. 482. H. viridiflorum, Willd. 

 sp. 3. p. 1192 (not of Linn.) ; Michx.fi. 2. p. 71 ; Pursh, I. c. H. Aikini, Eat. man. ed. 7. 

 p. 166. 



Stem 3-5 feet high, more or less hairy ; the hairs partly long and spreading horizontally, 

 and partly very short and hooked. Leaflets 2-4 inches long, thin ; the pubescence like that 

 of the stem, of two kinds, the longer hairs stiff and appressed, the shorter ones uncinate, so 

 that the leaves adhere pretty strongly to cloth and rough paper. Stipules nearly half an inch 

 long, persistent, scarious. Racemes forming a loose terminal panicle : pedicels 4-8 lines 

 long. Corolla violet-purple, becoming green in withering. Legume 1^-2 inches long, on 

 a very short stipe : joints one-third of an inch long, truncate at both ends. 



Moist rich soils : common in the interior of the State, particularly in the western and south- 

 western counties ; also on the islands near Troy. August. 

 [Flora.] 23 



