454 BOTANY OF CROP PLANTS 



yellow sweet clover. Several other species of Melilotus 

 have been used agriculturally to some extent; among such 

 are M. indica ("sour clover"), M. altissima, M. gracilis, 

 and M. speciosa. 



The characters of the two most important species are 

 arranged in parallel rows for purposes of comparison. 



M. Ma M. officinalis 



Commonly biennial. Commonly annual, sometimes bien- 



Flowers white. nial. 



Standard slightly longer than wings. Flowers yellow. 

 Pods ovoid, glabrous. Standard about equal the wings. 



Pods ovoid, often slightly pubescent. 



MELILOTUS ALBA (White Sweet Clover) 



Description. — This is an erect and smooth-stemed bien- 

 nial. It may reach a height of 3 or 4 feet the first season, 

 from seed ; the second season's growth is much more vigorous, 

 and wjll'^yield two crops in the Northern, and three in the 

 Southern States. New sprouts arise from above ground 

 near the base of the plant after each cutting, and for this 

 reason the plants must not be cut too close to the ground 

 line. The leaves have thick, oblong, finely toothed leaflets 

 which are narrowed at the base, and truncate, notched or 

 rounded at the apex. The racemes are numerous, slender, 

 and often one-sided. The flowers are white and have a 

 standard which is somewhat longer than the wings. The 

 pods are ovoid, slightly reticulated (netted), and smooth. 



The species is a native of Eurasia. It is a common road- 

 side and waste-place weed throughout this country. 



MELILOTUS OFFICINALIS (Yellow Sweet Clover) 



Description.^ — This plant is much like the preceding. It 

 does not grow so tall, however, is less common, and has 



