THE WILD l.J'.i Mis OF MARYLAND AND THEIR DTILIZATION, 119 



>und in dry woods in the eastern United States as Ear north as 

 Pennsylvania. In Maryland it lias been seen at Bel Air, Prince Fred- 



ericktown and Salisbury. 



White sweet clover, Melilotus alba, also known as white melilot, 

 ^-scented clover, bee clover, and Bokhara clovei \ vigorous 

 growing annual or biennial, three to ten feet high, differing from the 

 true clovers in having the small white flowers in slender, open spikes 

 instead of close heads. The foliage is fragrant in drying. This is a 

 native of the Old World, but introduced and growing wild in various 

 parts of the United States, especially around towns. It grows in all 

 kinds oi waste places, even on quite sterile ground, especially if rich 

 in lime. It is very common in Maryland in comities bordering the 

 northern part of Chesapeake Bay and east of the Blue Ridge. Tt is 



:ommon in the southern or extreme western counties of the State. 

 cially away from the lines of traffic. It contains in the dry 

 matter about seventeen or more per cent, of protein as compared 

 with thirteen and sixteen per cent, respectively in red clover and white 

 clover. The scent of the foliage makes it disagreeable to stock, but 

 when used to it they eat it readily. The long roots bring up salts 

 from the lower subsoil and it is good for green manuring. (Plate L 

 Figure 6). 



Yellow sweet clover, Melilotus officinalis, is a smaller plant than 

 the white sweet clover and has yellow flowers. It is also introduced 

 from the Old World in many parts of onr country, and is seen fre- 

 quently in waste and wetter lands than the last around Baltimore and' 

 Washington. In Switzerland a powder from the dried leaves is used 

 in flavoring chapziger cheese. 



Wild beau, Phascolus polystachys, is a high climbing vine, re- 

 sembling very much in leaves, flowers and pods the cultivated bean 

 vines ; the flowers scattered along the flower stalk. It is an uncommon 

 plant in moist or rocky thickets, especially along streams in the east- 

 ern United States. We have seen Maryland specimens from Ellicott 

 City, and along the Potomac, in Montgomery County. It is said to be 



lily eaten by cattle. 



Wild beau, Strophostyles helvola, is a prostrate or low climbing 

 vine, two to eight feet long, which with the next one differs from 

 Phaseolus polystachys in having the flowers clustered at the end of 

 the flower stalk. At least some of the leaflets arc more or less in- 

 dented on the sides, often so much as to make the leaflets three-lobed. 

 There are several varieties. It grows in sandy soil in Eastern United 

 States from Massachusetts south especiall; along streams. In Maryland 

 found over most of the Eastern Shore and occasionally west of the 

 Bay. Tt approaches the cowpea in feeding value, and has great 

 promise. (Figure [6 and Plate [. Figure 



Wild jean, Strophostyles umbellata, is a smaller trailing vine, one 

 to five feet long, perennial and the margin of the narrower lea 

 entire. In sandy soil, mostly in the Atlantic Very com- 



mon in old fields and in sand, in Maryland easl of Frederick Cour.tv 



