MEDICAGO FALCATA, A YELLOW-FLOWERED ALFALFA. 33 
WM. falcata laxiflora subscandens Schur (56, p. 172). 
Stems weak, climbing among bushes, branching above; leaflets obovate- 
lanceolate, slightly hairy, toothed at the apex; stipules long, linear-lanceo- 
late, as long as the leafstalk ; flowers pale yellow, in loose capitate clusters ; 
pods variously formed, more or less sickle shaped, inflated, glandular 
haired. Equals Medicago laxifiora Schur. Locality: Vicinity of Brunn, 
Austria. 
M. falcata albida calciola Schur (56, p. 172). 
Flowers white or yellowish white; pods almost smooth or somewhat 
glandular haired; stems upright; leaflets long to cuneate, slightly grayish 
green. Locality: Vicinity of Vienna and Brunn, Austria. 
M. varia pseudoglomerata Rouy and Foucaud (9/1, p. 15). 
Pods somewhat smaller than in ordinary WM. sativa, glandular pupescent, 
with 1 to 2 coils. Locality: Alpes-Maritimes. 
M. silvestris glandulosa Rouy and Foucaud (95/1, p. 13). 
Pods more or less glandular pubescent. Locality: Not specified. 
AGRICULTURAL HISTORY. 
As far back as mention of I/edicago falcata can be traced in the his- 
tory of agriculture it has almost invariably been referred to directly 
or indirectly as a noncultivated species. Incidentally it may be in- 
ferred from certain references by early writers that the plant was 
utilized in a very limited way for forage in some localities in Europe, 
but no hint is given that it was cultivated there for that or any other 
purpose. No attempt has been made to search the literature for in- 
formation regarding its early utilization in Asia. 
The species was at least sufficiently well known to be mentioned 
in European literature more than three centuries ago, but up to the 
time of Linneeus (1750-1790) no botanists or agriculturists apparently 
had ever recommended its domestication. About 1783 Le Blane 
(32) became interested in the plant, which he termed “ Yellow 
Medick,” on account of its ability to produce a good growth on poor 
soil. He conceived the idea of its domestication, but in the course 
of his investigations his attention was attracted to a hybrid of Medi- 
cago sativa and Medicago falcata, to which he gave the name “ Varie- 
gated Medick.” In his opinion, this plant was superior to either the 
common lucern or the yellow medick, and therefore he discontinued 
his efforts to domesticate the latter. 
The literature of the past century contains many references to 
the cultivation of Medicago falcata, but outside of limited localities 
in India, China, and southern Russia, where it is reported to be cul- 
tivated to some extent, it is not grown under cultivation except for 
experimental purposes. It is a significant fact that regardless of the 
relationship of Afedicago falcata to common alfalfa, the early recog- 
nition of its value, and the numerous attempts to domesticate it, the 
plant is still an uncultivated species. However, it must be said that 
55890°—Bull. 428—17 5 
