90 LKciiJiiNos^. (pulse family.) 



stipules linear-subulate, elongated, adnate below to the petioles ; racemes erect; 

 densely many-flowcrcd ; flowers pale red, the vexillum dark purple in the 

 centre ; legume very woolly. — Dry sandy barrens, Florida to North Carolina. 

 April. — Stems l°-2° long. Leaves (with the petiole) 6' -8' long. 



3. L. dififusus, Nutt. Perennial ; silky-tomentose and hoary ; stems pros- 

 trate or erect, much branched ; leaves simple, oblong or obovate, obtuse, shoit- 

 petioled ; stipules short, often wanting on the branches ; racemes many-flowered ; 

 flowers blue, the vexillum dark pui-ple in the centre ; legume woolly. — Dry 

 sand-ridges, Florida to North Carolina. April and May. — Stems 1° - 2° high. 

 Leaves 2' -4' long. 



3. MEDICAGO, L. 



Calyx 5-cleft ; the lobes subulate or setaceous. Corolla deciduous. Vexillum 

 longer than the partly united wings and keel. Stamens 10, diadelphous (9 & 

 1), equal. Style smooth. Legume falcate or coiled, 1 -many-seeded. — Herbs 

 or shrubs. Loaves trifoliolate. Stipules adnate to the petioles, mostly incised. 

 Flowers yellow, in axillary sjjikes. 



1. M. lupulina, L. Pubescent ; stem procumbent ; leaflets obovate, 

 toothed ; stipules nearly entire ; spikes globose, many-flowcrcd ; flowers mi- 

 nute ; legumes reniform, 1-seeded, black. — Waste places, Florida and north- 

 ward. Introduced. (J) — Stem l°-2° long. 



4. MELILOTtrS, Toum. Melilot. Sweet Clover. 



Calyx 5-toothed ; the teeth long and equal. Corolla deciduous. Wings and 

 keel cohering. Stamens diadelphous (9 & 1). Legume ovoid, coriaceous, 

 veiny or rugose, longer than the calyx, 1 - 4-seeded, scarcely dehiscent. — 

 Smooth herbs. ' Leaves trifoliolate. Leaflets often toothed. Stipules adnate to 

 the petioles. Flowers yellow or white, in axillary racemes. 



1. M. ofS.cilialis, WiUd. Stem erect, branching ; leaflets obovate-oblong, 

 toothed ; flowers yellow ; vexillum striped with brown, as long as the keel and 

 wings ; legume obovate, rugose. — Cultivated ground. Introduced. (3) and (?) 

 — Stems l°-3° high. Legumes drooping, 2-seeded. 



2. M. alba. Lam. Stem erect, branching ; leaflets oblong, truncate, ser- 

 rate; racemes elongated ; flowers white; vexillumlongerthan the wings and keel; 

 legumes ovate, rugose, 1-seeded. (M. leucantha, Koch.) — Cultivated grounds. 

 Introduced. @ — Legumes drooping. 



6. TBIFOLIUM, L. Clovet!. 



Calyx 5-cleft ; the teeth subulate or setaceous. Corolla withering or persist- 

 ent ; the keel shorter than the wings, and united with them by their claws. Sta- 

 mens diadelphous (9 & 1). Legume smooth, membranaceous, 1-6-seeded, often 

 shorter than the calyx, scarcely dehiscent. — Tufted or diffuse herbs. Leaves 

 trifoliolate, the leaflets mostly toothed. Stipules adnate to the petioles. Flow- 

 ers (in our species) capitate. 



