MEDICAGO FALCATA, A YELLOW-FLOWEEED ALFALFA. 



25 



other botanists class Medicago falcata as a distinct species coordinate 

 with Medicago sativa. 



While opinions differ as to the relationship of Medicago sativa to 

 Medicago falcata, the natural relationship is clearly indicated by the 

 frequency and fertility of the hybrids between the two. With the 

 exception of the forms of Medicago which Urban (62) assigns to 

 Medicago sativa and Medicago prostrata Jacq. {28) there are no 

 others so far reported that hybridize naturally with Medicago 

 satiwa — and but few that can be crossed artificially.^ 



These facts are especially significant in the Leguminosse, where 

 hybrids of any kind are extremely rare. A careful study of the 

 behavior of the hybrids of Medicago sativa and Medicago falcata 







<i» •'^ 



Fig. 12. — Individual plant of Medicago falcata, S. P. L No. 28070, a medium broad 

 crowned plant of ascending habit of growth, representing Group III. 



points to a common origin of the parents at no very remote date in 

 their evolutionary histor3^ Regardless of the somewhat contradic- 

 tory opinions that exi.st, Medicago falcata will be referred to through- 

 out this paper as a true species. 



Botanical names have been assigned to what appear to be true 

 forms of Medicago falcata and both specific and varietal names 

 to foiins that ai-e appai'ently hybrids of Medicago falcata and Medi- 



' II.vbfld.M of AfrrJiraf/o untlra and Mcdirafio proHtrata linve been reported l),v .\Rchcrson 

 nrxl Ora<'l>n<'r, l)ut th<'rr> 1h a much doHcr n'lallf)nHliIp between theHe hix-cIch tlinn Url)an's 

 rIaHHifleatlon would Indicate. NumcrouH tiroad croHHCH of legumeH have l)een reported, 

 Includlni; om- of M<<lir(iiin nativti and an aritiu.'il or bicniiiiil KpcclcH of (lie Hiinic genus, but 

 they are all of doubtful aullienllcity. 

 T)T)HW) " — 1 5 1 1 II . 4l'H— 1 7 4 



