10 BULLETIN 428, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
name falcata in reality applied to the hybrid forms most closely 
resembling J/edicago falcata. | 
In 1694 Tournefort (59), following in a general way the classifica- 
tion of Rivinus for the Medica group, took up the old generic name 
Medica florelutec. 759 Medica for the plants 
with screw-shaped 
pods and coined a 
new one, Medicago, 
for those having pods 
shaped like a collar. 
Both Medicago 
sativa and Medicago 
falcata were included 
by him under Med- 
ica, the former as 
Medica major erec- 
tior floribus purpu- 
rascentibus and the 
latter as Medica syl- 
vestre. It is appar- 
ent that he intended 
Medicago radiata L. 
to illustrate the type 
of his genus Medi- 
cago. From his clas- 
sification it is quite 
evident that the dis- 
tinguishing character 
which Tournefort 
had uppermost in his 
mind was the shape 
of the pod. He was 
not consistent, there- 
fore, in placing M/ed- 
icago falcata in the 
genus Medica, since 
the true form of it 
does not have the 
Fie. 2.—Probably the first figure of Medicago falcata ever ‘ l 
published. Copied from Clusius, Historia, 1583 edition, SP1ira or screw- 
where it first appeared. shaped pod which 
characterizes his genus. Possibly his knowledge of Medicago falcata 
was confined to the hybrid forms having loosely coiled pods, in which 
ease his arrangement is partially justified. | 
In 1700 Tournefort (60) simplified the description of his genera 
somewhat and added varieties of his Medica major erectior (Medi- 
