REPORT OF THE BOTANIST. 



125 



on the high plains, and in the mountains ranging from British America 

 to Mexico. The flowers are subject to much variation in color, some 

 varieties being purple, some yellow, and others white. Plate II. 



Melilotus alba — Stceet Clover ; Bokhara Clover. 



A biennial plant of the order Leguminosa?, nearly related to the 

 clovers. It has a long, tough root which penetrates deeply in the soil, 

 sending out its fibrous branches long distances in search of nourish- 

 ment. The first year of its growth it sends up a large group of stems 

 from a single root. These reach a height of about 2 feet and are pro- 

 vided with an abundance of leaves. The second year it sends up more 

 vigorous stalks, which develop many branches and grow to a height of 

 4 to 8 feet, according to the moisture which they are able to obtain from 

 the soil. The leaves are trifoliate or composed of three leaflets, of which 

 the terminal one is short stalked and the lateral ones nearly or quite 

 sessile. They have a common stalk or petiole generally less than an 

 inch in length. The leaflets vary in size; on the thrifty shoots of the 

 first year they may be 1J to inches long and one-half inch wide, but 

 generally they are about 1 inch long, of an oblong or oblanceolate form, 

 with the margins finely toothed. It begins to branch quite low and 

 continues producing many slender branches to the top. The smaller 

 subdivisions of these branches, from 3 to G inches in length, are occupied 

 with the flowers and finally with the fruit. The flowers are arranged 

 on these branches in spikes coming out irregularly but pretty uniformly 

 for the whole distance. They are very small, white, on very short ped- 

 icels, and reflexed or bent backward. They have the general structure 

 of flowers of the order to which they belong, but the parts are so minute 

 that they need some magnifying power to see all the details. They 

 have a 5-toothed calyx, 5 irregular petals, 10 stamens, 9 of which are 

 grown together so as'to form a band, the 10th stamen free, with a small 

 membranous, wrinkled, usually 1-seeded pod. These pods are very 

 small, but as there are great numbers of them on the branches the re- 

 sult is a pretty large yield. Plate III. 



The plant is a native of the southern parts of Europe and Western 

 Asia. From its prevalence in the latter situation it receives the name 

 of Bokhara clover. 



It has been cultivated to some extent in Europe, but is there consid- 

 ered greatly inferior to red clover on account of the large proportion 

 of coarse and innutritious stalks. On soils that are suitable for red 

 clover that plant will give better satisfaction, but it is said to be adapted 

 to poor soils, and not only to yield a heavy crop of forage, but to be very 

 useful for plowing under to enrich the soil. 



In some parts of the South it has recently been considerably culti- 

 vated and apparently with satisfactory results. Bees are said to be 

 very fond of the flowers, and hence it has been recommended as a honey- 

 producing plant. 



The following letter from Dr. E. H. Duggar, of Gallion, Hale County, 

 Alabama, gives an account of his acquaintance with the plant and his 

 estimation of its value : 



Gallion, Hale County, Alabama, June 23, 1S34. 

 Dear Sir : With reference to the plant sweet clover, sometimes called wild lucerne, 

 bnt more properly 11 Melilotus alba," or " Bokhara clover," I will state that about fifteen 

 years ago I was attracted to it by noticing along some ditch banks, in comparatively 

 poor soil, this plant growing vigorously ; its deep dark green clover-like leaves ahead 

 of other vegetation was specially noticeable. 



