I'll!: WILD LEGUMES OF MARYLAND AND THEIR UTILIZATION 123 



Red bud, Cercis Canadensis. A small tree with large, heart-shaped 

 k-a\cs and clusters of pink flowers appearing along the branches be- 



the leaves in the spring. Usually seen on rocky, rich hillsides 

 throughout Western Maryland and the eastern states generally, o 

 sionalh on the Eastern Shore, but is not a common tree. The hard, 

 finely-colored wood is of some value for working, and has been used 

 as dye-wood. The sweet-tasting flower buds have been used in 

 salads. 



Wild lupine, Lupinus perennis. A low perennial with long spikes 

 of large blue dowers rising above the plant and producing flat, hairy, 

 bean-like pods, ddie leaves are peculiar in having about eight wedge- 

 shaped leaflets radiating from the end of each leaf stalk, fn very dry, 

 sandy soil in all the Eastern United States, but unlike many legumes 

 3 not (\o well in calcarious soils. In Maryland it has been seen in 

 several places between Washington and Baltimore and in northern 

 Baltimore County, but it is not common. The seeds are said to be 

 poisonous. (Plate I. Figure 36). 



Rattle-box Crotalaria sa^ittalis. A small annual herb about four 

 to eight inches high, with entire leaves, the stem having a pointed wing 

 below each leaf; flowers yellow; pod inflated, so that seed rattle in it 

 when dry. Frequent in dry clay or sandy upland, all over the eastern 

 and southern states. Poisonous to stock, and causing serious disease 

 in horses when eaten by them. (Plate I. Figure 3). 



Dolicholus, Dolicholns credits. A perennial herb, erect and stout, 

 about one foot high, with leaves of three leaflets, velvety and heavily 

 veined ; clusters of yellow flowers and short, few-seeded pods. Sandy 

 land, southern Maryland, and southern part of Eastern Shore and 

 States southward; not common. (Plate I. Figure 33). 



Milk- pea, Galactia voliibilis. A slender, smooth, climbing vine, 

 with trifoliate leaves, rounded at the apex, and bean-like pods. In dry 

 soil over the eastern United States; not common in Maryland. 



Crown vetch, Coronilla varia. A vetch-like perennial, one to two 

 feet high, with pinnate leaves and clusters of whitish flowers in long- 

 Stalked heads. ( Occasionally seen around Baltimore and in States north- 

 ward ; introduced from Europe. 



Joint vetch, Aeschynome inica. An annual, three feet high, 



with lea> mbling those of the partridge-pea, and jointed | 



river banks in the Eastern and Southern Stairs near the 

 coast; seen only occasionally in Man land. ( Plate I. Figure 10). 



Milk vetch, Astragalus Carolinianus. A perennial herb about three 



tall, with pinna: - and spikes of whit' - s. Common 



along streams west, but rare in Maryland, along the Potomac. Cattle 

 are s; nd of it. 



False ir \ptisia australis. A small slightly-branched peren- 



nial herb with spikes of large blue flower ry rare in Maryland, 



along the Potomac and possibl) elsewhere in rich soil, but common 

 • of us. 



