Descriptive Flora 



101 



Medicago satim L. Alfalfa. 



This purple flowered 6 1 clover' 9 is grown extensively for 

 fodder and has escaped from cultivation. Leaves trifoliate, the 

 three oblong, blunt tipped leaflets terminating short stalks that 

 expand at the base forming membraneous sheaths around the 

 nodes. Flowers tiny, bonnet-shaped, purple, in dense clusters 

 of 15 to 20, terminating long, slender stems that branch out of 

 the axils of the leaves. Seed pods curiously twisted into spirals. 

 An excellent forage crop and relished by horses and cattle. 

 April to late summer. Introduced plants when found have 

 escaped cultivation. 



Melilotus alba Desv. White Sweet Clover. "Trebol". 



Tall, slender, branched plants with rather inconspicuous 

 slender spikes, 2 to 10" long, of tiny, white, bonnet-shaped blos- 

 soms that are hung with a cloud of perfume that is one of the 

 sweetest breaths of summer. Plants similar to yellow sweet 

 clover, with short-stemmed, trifoliate leaves and long-oblong 

 leaflets with toothed margins. Pods tiny, oval. Rare, probably 

 introduced. March to July. A valuable source of honey in 

 many Northern and Eastern localities. Most of the odor comes 

 from the leaves and stems. 



Melilotus indica (L.) All. Yellow Sweet Clover. 



Plants similar to Alfalfa but with slender spikes of minute, 

 bonnet-shaped, very fragrant, yellow flowers and small, wrinkled, 

 ovoid, 1 to 2-seeded pods. Introduced. March to July. A vacant 

 lot and wayside weed. Not relished by horses and cattle probably 

 because of the bitter taste of the plant. The seed is a common 

 adulterant of alfalfa seed. 



Indigofera leptosepala Nutt. Indigo-plant. 



Scarlet-flowered plant with spreading prostrate stems. 

 Leaves pinnately compound. Leaflets 7 to 9, covered with fine, 

 appressed hairs. Flowers bonnet-shaped, geranium pink to pale 

 scarlet, in elongated axillary clusters. Pods straight, thick, 



