MEDIC AGO PALCATA, A YELLOW-FLO WEEED ALFALFA. 33 



M. falcata laxiflora subscandens Schur {56, p. 172). 



Stems weak, climbing among buslies, branching above ; leaflets obovate- 

 lanceolate, slightly hairy, toothed at the apex ; stipules long, linear-lanceo- 

 late, as long as the leafstalk ; flowers pale yellow, in loose capitate clusters ; 

 pods variously formed, more or less sickle shaped, inflated, glandular 

 haired. Equals Mcdicago laxiflora Schur. Locality : Vicinity of Brunn, 

 Austria. 

 21. falcata albida calciola Schur {56, p. 172). 



Flowers w'Mte or yellowish white; pods almost smooth or somewhat 

 glandular haired ; stems upright ; leaflets long to cuneate, slightly grayish 

 green. Locality : Vicinity of Vienna and Brunn, Austria. 

 M. varia pseudofflomerata Rouy and Foucaud {51, p. 15). 



Pods somewhat smaller than in ordinary M. sativa, glandular pubescent, 

 with 1 to 2 coils. Locality : Alpes-Maritimes. 

 M. silvestris fjlandulosa, Rouy and Foucaud {51, p. 13). 



Pods more or less glandular pubescent. Locality : Not specified. 



AGRICULTURAL HISTORY. 



As far back as mention of Medicago falcata can be traced in the his- 

 tory of agriculture it has almost invariably been referred to directly 

 or indirectly as a noncultivated species. Incidentally it may be in- 

 ferred from certain references by early writers that the plant was 

 utilized in a very limited way for forage in some localities in Europe, 

 but no hint is given that it was cultivated there for that or any other 

 purpose. Xo attempt has been made to search the literature for in- 

 formation regarding its early utilization in Asia. 



The species was at least suflEiciently well known to be mentioned 

 in European literature more than three centuries ago, but up to the 

 time of Linnseus (1750-1790) no botanists or agriculturists apparently 

 had ever recommended its domestication. About 1783 Le Blanc 

 {-32) became interested in the plant, which he termed " Yellow 

 Medick," on account of its ability to produce a good growth on poor 

 soil. He conceived the idea of its domestication, but in the course 

 of his investigations his attention was attracted to a hybrid of Medi- 

 cago sativa and Medicago falcata^ to which he gave the name " Varie- 

 gated Medick." In his opinion, this plant was superior to either the 

 common hicern or the yellow medick, and therefore he discontinued 

 his efforts to domesticate the latter. 



The literature of the past century contains many references to 

 the cultivation of Medicago falcata., but outside of limited localities 

 in In(Jia, China, and southern Kussia, where it is reported to be cul- 

 tivated to some extent, it is not grown under cultivation except for 

 experimental purposes. It is a significant fact that regardless of the 

 rclationsliij) of Medicago falcata to connnon alfalfa, the early j'ecog- 

 nition of its value, and the numerous attempts to domesticate it, the 

 plant is still an nnciiltivat('(l species. However, it must ])e said that 

 .V,Sli(r— lUiil. 42H— 17 ."> 



