314 



Plants and their Ways in South Africa 



AAAA. Stamens diadelphous. Ovary 2- to several-ovuled. 



B. Small herbs, erect or trailing, but not climbing. Leaves 

 3-, rarely '^-foliate. 



Trifolium.— Calyx showy after flowering, concealing the 

 fruit. Keel joined to the wings. Flowers small, red, white, 

 or yellow, in dense spikes or heads. Leaves usually 3-foliate, 

 stipules joined to the petiole. Herbaceous annual or perennial. 

 The clovers belong to this genus. 



MedicagO. — Legume not hidden, spirally coiled, often 

 provided with hooks. Keel free from the wings. Lucerne 

 belongs to this genus. 



Fig. 286.- 



-Branch of Medicago denticulata, 

 Willd. 



Fig. 287. — Twisted legume 01 

 Lucerne {Medhago sa/iva, 

 L. ). (From Thomt^ and 

 Bennett's "Structural and 

 Physiological Bo-any".) 



Indigofera. — Flowers red, purple, or white. Standard 

 bent back. Keel with a spur at each side. Anthers with a 

 small point at the top. Pollen scattered by explosion. Leaves 

 imparipinnate, or 3 to many palmately compound. Legume 

 usually with partitions between the seed. Shrubs or annuals, 

 erect or procumbent. 



1) B. T?res or shrubs. 



Sutherlandia,. — Standard shorter than the keel, wings very 



