Volume 5 January 3, rgio 



MUHLENBERGIA 



STUDIES IX TRIFOLIUM V. 



By P. Beveridge Kennedy 



Notes on T. longipes Nutt. 



A ])liotograpli of the type sheet of Trifolium longipes from 

 Kew reveals some interesting- botanical history. 



For a number of years the writer in his studies of the clo- 

 vers has been troubled with the apparent discrepancies between 

 the plants generally considered T. longipes and the original de- 

 scription. There are three plants on the type sheet marked 

 longipes. One a short one from the Rocky mountains, and two 

 others, one with a very long peduncle and slender flower head 

 from the Columbia plains. 



The original description cites "valleys of the central chain 

 of the Rocky Mountain range, and on the moist plains of the 

 Oregon as low as the Wahlamet." The description also indi- 

 cates that it includes both the Rocky mountain plant and that 

 of the Columbia plains. The flowers are said to be "ochroleu- 

 cous." 



The fact that the smaller plant comes from the Rocky moun- 

 tain range and that the flowers are yellowish would indicate that 

 it is T. Rydbergii. The flowers are evidently too young to be 

 reflexed, a strong character distinguishing T. Rydbergii from T. 

 longipes. A great main' of the plants collected in the central 

 chain of the Rocky mountains through Colorado, Utah and Wyo- 

 ming, although usually marked longipes^ on examination prove 

 to be T. Rydbergii. 



Hooker, in London Journal of Botany 6: 209, while report- 

 ing on Geyer's collection, places a Trifolium from the stony 

 banks of Flathead River [Montana] with white flowers under 

 longipes. It is probably T. Rydbergii. 



"57' 



