PULSE FAMILY. 



97 



2. T. pratense, L. Stems ascending ; leaflets oval or ovate-oblong, often 

 retuse ; stipules broad, terminating in a bristle-like point ; beads ovoid, 

 dense-flowered, sessile, bracteate at base ; calyx-segments scarcely half 

 as long as the corolla, the lower one longer than the others. 



!^[eadow Trifolium. Ked 

 Clover. Common Clover. 



Fr. Trefle des Pres. Germ. 

 Der Wiesen-Klee. Span. 

 Trebol. 



Eoot biennial , or perennial ? large , 

 fusiform. Stems several from the 

 same root, 1 - 2 or 3 feet long, rather 

 weak at base and often decumbent, 

 somewhat branched, striate and 

 pilose. Leaflets half an inch to an 

 inch and a half long, sessile, usu- 

 ally with a broad paler spot in the 

 middle, hairy beneath ; common 

 petiole half an inch to 4-5 inches 

 long. Heads of flowers ovoid or 

 subglobose, an inch or more in 

 diameter. Corolla purplish-red 

 (rarely white)— the petals all 

 united into a slender tube about 

 half an inch in length. Legume 

 1-seedcd, included in the calyx. 

 Seed reuiform, greenish-yellow with 

 a shade of reddish brown. 



Cultivated fields, meadows, &c. 

 Canada to Florida : introduced. 

 Native of Europe, i?'?. May -Sept. 

 Fr. July -October. 



Ohs. This plant (which is sometimes spoken of in works upon agriculture 

 as a grass,) is one of the most valuable forage plants. It is thoroughly natu- 

 ralized ; but it is also diligently cultivated by all good farmers. In con- 

 junction with the grasses — especially with Timothy (Phleum pratense) 

 it makes the best of hay — though by itself it is rather indifferent pasture. 

 Its culture exerts a most kindly influence on the soil, and its introduction 

 as an ameliorating crop, has had a most beneficial influence upon Agri- 

 culture. It is the crop most frequently cultivated to " turn in," and 

 thus enrich the soil with organic matter. The plant is generally con- 

 sidered to be a biennial ; but Mr. Joshua Hoopes — who is a very acute 

 observer — assures me, he has satisfactorily ascertained that the plant will 

 live more than two years. It is not known at what time clover came 

 into general cultivation in this country ; but it is recorded that John 

 Bartram had fields of it, prior to the American Revolution. The 

 flowers contain much nectar, — but the tube of the corolla is so long that 

 the Honey Bee cannot reach the treasure with its proboscis ; and conse- 



FiG. 74. A cluster or head of the flowers of Red Clover (Trifolium pratense), and a tri- 

 foliolate leaf. 75. A separate flower, enlarged, a A pod, or rounded legume, h Tho 

 seed, c The embryo removed from the seed coat. 



5 



A.M. 



