pulse Jfamili^. 



Purple Clover. Medicago sativa. 



Alfalfa. 



Medick. 



Lucerne. 



Pound, from July to September, in dry fields and sandy barrens. 



The bushy, branching stalk reaches 2 or 3 feet in height ; it is not 

 very large, and is smooth ; light green in color. 



The 3 leaflets of the compound leaf are long and narrow, or a 

 pointed-oblong shape, widest near the abruptly-tapering tip ; the margin 

 is very slightly irregular, except for a sharp little needle-point at the 

 tip ; the surface is downy. Each leaflet is provided with a tiny foot- 

 stem, the middle having the longest one. The color is a cool green, 

 lighter underneath ; without markings. The leaves are set on slender 

 stems, arranged in groups, alternately ; a pair of slender, fine wings 

 occur at the junction of the stalk. 



The flower is smaller than that of the Crimson Clover; it has a 

 fine texture, and the petals are a pure purple color, the upper petal, 

 which is much curled back, being marked with delicate dark lines ; the 

 small calyx is pale green. The flower-head is a short and club-shaped 

 spike. 



An individual trait is the charming little jerk in the line at the 

 spring of the central leaflet. 



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