THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 
83 
purple and flesh-color, and are deliciously, though inter- 
mittently fragrant with the odor of violets. The very 
large sweet-potato-like tubers of this plant were much 
used by the Indians for food. 
One of our daintiest Leguminous plants is the hog-nut 
{Amphicarpsea monoica). It is found along woody roads, 
on rocky slopes, or among low bushes in various situa- 
tions — usually shaded. It scrambles over shrubbery, has 
tri-foliolate leaves and very delicate pink flowers. Much 
prettier are some of the tick-trefoils of the troublesome 
genus Desmodium. Our adjective used meant to convey 
the idea of their difficult study, but they are troublesome 
in another sense; the jointed pods from whence they 
derive their name, from desmos a chain, easily break up 
and being amply provided with hooks aflSx themselves to 
one's clothing. Thus do they make man an unwilling 
agent in their distribution. However, the flowers of some 
species are extremely lovelv, and those of D, Canadensis 
really showy. The bush-clovers or Lespedezas are near 
relatives of the Desmodiums, but never as showy. 
We might go on to speak of the white and yellow 
melilots, sweet when drying with the odor of vanilla ; of 
the lucerne and alfalfa, and of the rattle-pod or Crotolaria. 
Our article, however, is already protracted and it has 
served its purpose if in any way it has produced an inter- 
est in some at least of our wild pea-flowers. 
Brown University, Providence, R. I. 
SOME FAMILIAR POT-HERBS. 
BY WILLARD N. CLUTE. 
"pACH year, almost before we have begun to think of 
^ spring, we are apprised of the fact that a milder 
season is approaching by the famiHar sight of women and 
children roaming about the fields and pastures in search 
of dandelions. In localities where there are many of 
foreign birth the gathering of dandelions assumes the 
rank of a thriving industry' for some weeks in spring. 
DandeHon digging, however, is not confined to foreigners ; 
