ORDER XLin. — LEGUMINOS^E. 285 



on long axillary peduncles, at first erect, afterward reflected. Calyx 

 nearly glabrous, with unequal teeth. Legume 4-seeded, cylindrical. — 

 White. If. April — Nov. Waste places. Common. 6 — 12 inches. 



White Clover. 



5. T. Carolinia'num, (Mich.) Stem small, procumbent, hairy. Leaves 

 ternate, obcoidate, pubescent, toothed, glaucous beneath. Flowers in 

 small umbels, at first erect, afterward reflected. Calyx persistent, un- 

 equally 5-cleft. Vexillum longer than the calyx. Keel very short. 

 Legume 4-seeded, turgid. — White, tinged with purple. 0. March — 

 May. Sandy fields. 



Genus XXIX.— MELILO'TUS. Tourn. 16—10. 

 (From met, honey, and lotus, — honey-lotus.) 



Calyx tubular, campanulate, 5-toothed, persistent. Petals 

 deciduous. Vexillum longer than the wings ; keel petals united, 

 cohering to the wings. Style filiform. Legumes coriaceous, 1 

 to few seeded, nearly globose. Leaves trifoliate. Flowers in 

 axillary racemes. 



1. M. officinalis. (Willd.) Stem erect, angular, glabrous, with spread- 

 ing branches; leaflets obovate, obtuse, remotely serrate, glabrous. 

 Flowers in loose racemes, teeth of the calyx unequal. Legumes 2-seed- 

 ed, rugose, acute, ovate. — Yellow. 0. June — Aug. Rich soils. In- 

 troduced. 2 — i feet. Yellow Melilot. 



Genus XXX.— MEDIC A'GO. L. 16—10. 

 (From medike, a name given to a species of grass.) 



Calyx somewhat cylindrical, 5-cleft, keel of the corolla bend- 

 ing from the vexillum. Legume spirally coiled, 1 -seeded, com- 

 pressed. 



1. M. Lutuli'na, (L.) Stem procumbent, diffuse, assurgent, angled, 

 hairv. Leaves ternate, on short petioles; leaflets oblong, cuneate, emar- 

 ginate, denticulate near the summit, hairy. Flowers in axillary heads. 

 Legumes reniform, 1-seeded, black. — Yellow. 2£. June — Aug. Cul- 

 tivated grounds. Introduced. 6 — 12 inches. 



Tribe V.— ASTRAGA'LE^E. 



Stamens monadelphous. Legume continuous, usually inflated, 

 and often 2-celled, commonly several-seeded. Erect or decum- 

 bent plants, usually herbaceous. 



Genus XXXI.— ASTRAG'ALUS. L. 16—10. 



(From the Greek astragalos, vertebra ; the seeds in the pod being flattened longitu- 

 dina.ly like vertebrae.) 



Calyx -f-toothed, keel obtuse. Stamens monadelphous. 

 Legume 2-celled, by the inflexion of the lower suture. Leaves 

 unequally pinnate ; leaflets numerous. 



