WEEDS OF THE PEA FAMILY. 



89 



less common northward. June-Sept. In the shape of the flowers 



the wild senna, partridge pea, red-bud, Kentucky coffee tree and a 



few others differ in that the up- 

 per petal or standard is en- 

 closed by the wings in the bud, 

 whereas in the pea family 

 proper the standard overlaps or 

 encloses the wings. The wild 

 senna spreads by deep perennial 

 roots and often densely covers 

 large areas. Remedies: mow- 

 ing before the flowers blossom, 

 two or three times each season; 

 cutting with hoe or spud and 

 salting. 



The partridge pea (C. cham- 

 cecrista L.) is another senna, 

 which differs in its smaller size, 

 much smaller leaflets which 

 close when touched, petals often 

 with a purple spot at base, and 

 straight pods. It occurs in dry 



or sandy soil in the southern half of the State. Remedies : cutting 



and burning before the seeds mature. 



50. MEDICAGO LUPULINA L. Black or Hop 



Medic. Prostrate Yellow Clover. 



Nonesuch. (A. I. 3.) 

 Branched at the base, the branches 

 prostrate and spreading, 1-2 feet long ; 

 leaflets 3, clover-like, obovate or oval, cre- 

 nate. Flowers small, bright yellow, in 

 dense oblong heads or short spikes; sta- 

 mens 10 in two sets, and 1. Pods 

 black, curved backward upon the stem, 

 1-seeded. Seeds yellow, similar to but 

 smaller than those of red clover. (Fig. 55.) 



Fig. 54. 1, flower; 2, mature pods. (After Vasey.; 



Frequent in dry sterile soil 

 railways and roadsides and in waste 

 places in towns and cities. May Aug. 

 Valued as forage, but much less so 

 than the white and red clovers. An 

 own brother to the alfalfa which be- 

 longs to the same genus, and its seeds 



Fig. 55. (After Smith j 



