Chapter C: VARIA, L. A perennial herb with ascending stems; leaves sessile;

leaflets 15--25, oblong; flowers rose-color; pods coriaceous, 3--7-jointed, the 4 angled joints 3--4'' long.--Conn. to N. J. (Nat. from Eu.)

26. HEDYSARUM, Tourn.

Calyx 5-cleft, the lobes awl-shaped and nearly equal. Keel nearly straight, obliquely truncate, not appendaged, longer than the wings. Stamens diadelphous, 5 and 1. Pod flattened, composed of several equal-sided separable roundish joints connected in the middle.--Perennial herbs; leaves odd-pinnate. (Name composed of [Greek: e(dy/s], _sweet_, and [Greek: a)/roma], _smell_.)

1. H. boreale, Nutt. Leaflets 13--21, oblong or lanceolate, nearly glabrous; stipules scaly, united opposite the petiole; raceme of many deflexed purple flowers; standard shorter than the keel; joints of the pod 3 or 4, smooth, reticulated.--Lab. to northern Maine and Vt.; north shore of L. Superior, and north and westward.

27. DESMODIUM, Desv. TICK-TREFOIL.

Calyx usually more or less 2 lipped. Standard obovate; wings adherent to the straight or straightish and usually truncate keel, by means of a little transverse appendage on each side of the latter. Stamens diadelphous, 9 and 1, or monadelphous below. Pod flat, deeply lobed on the lower margin, separating into few or many flat reticulated joints (mostly roughened with minute hooked hairs, by which they adhere to the fleece of animals or to clothing).--Perennial herbs, with pinnately 3-foliolate (rarely 1-foliolate) leaves, stipellate. Flowers (in summer) in axillary or terminal racemes, often panicled, and 2 or 3 from each bract, purple or purplish, often turning green in withering. Stipules and bracts scale-like, often striate. (Name from [Greek: desmo/s], _a bond_ or _chain_, from the connected joints of the pods.)

Sec. 1. _Pod raised on a stalk (stipe) many times longer than the slightly toothed calyx and nearly as long as the pedicel, straightish on the upper margin, deeply sinuate on the lower; the 1--4 joints mostly half-obovate and concave on the back; stamens monadelphous below; plants nearly glabrous; stems erect or ascending; raceme terminal, panicled; stipules bristle-form, deciduous._

1. D. nudiflorum, DC. _Leaves all crowded at the summit of sterile stems_; leaflets broadly ovate, bluntish, whitish beneath; _raceme elongated on an ascending mostly leafless stalk or scape from the root_, 2 deg. long.--Dry woods, common.

2. D. acuminatum, DC. _Leaves all crowded at the summit of the stem from which arises the elongated naked raceme or panicle_; leaflets round-ovate, taper-pointed, green both sides, the end one round (4--5' long).--Rich woods, from Canada to the Gulf.

3. D. pauciflorum, DC. _Leaves scattered_ along the low (8--15' high) ascending stems; leaflets rhombic-ovate, bluntish, pale beneath; _raceme few-flowered_, terminal.--Woods, Ont. to Penn., Mich., Kan., and southward.

Sec. 2. _Pod raised on a stalk (stipe) little if at all surpassing the deeply deft calyx; stems long and prostrate or decumbent; racemes axillary and terminal._

[*] _Stipules conspicuous, ovate, attenuate, striate, persistent; racemes mostly simple._

4. D. rotundifolium, DC. _Soft-hairy all over_, truly prostrate; _leaflets orbicular_, or the odd one slightly rhomboid; _flowers purple_; pods almost equally sinuate on both edges, 3--5-jointed; the joints rhomboid-oval.--Dry rocky woods, N. Eng. to Fla., west to Minn., Mo., and La.

Var. glabratum, Gray, is almost glabrous, otherwise nearly as the ordinary form.--Mass. and N. Y.

5. D. ochroleucum, M. A. Curtis. _Stems sparsely hairy_, decumbent; leaflets nearly glabrous, ovate, acute or obtuse, transversely reticulated beneath, the lateral ones smaller or sometimes wanting; racemes much elongated; _corolla whitish; pods twisted_, 2--4-jointed, the large rhomboid joints smooth and reticulated but the margins downy.--Woodlands, Md. and Va.

[*][*] _Stipules smaller, lanceolate and awl-shaped, less persistent; racemes panicled._

6. D. humifusum, Beck. _Glabrous or nearly so_, procumbent; _leaflets ovate or ovate-oblong_, rather obtuse, much smaller than in the two preceding (11/4--2' long), corolla purple; pods 2--4-jointed, flat, the oval-rhomboid joints minutely scabrous throughout.--Dry sandy soil, S. Penn. to Md.

Sec. 3. _Pod slightly if at all stalked in the calyx; racemes panicled._

[*] _Stems tall (3--5 deg.) and erect; the persistent stipules and deciduous bracts large and conspicuous, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, taper-pointed; flowers rather large._

[+] _Pods of 4--7 unequal-sided rhombic joints, which are considerably longer than broad (about 6'' long)._

7. D. canescens, DC. Stem loosely branched, _hairy; leaflets ovate, bluntish, about the length of the petioles, whitish and reticulated beneath_, both sides roughish with a close fine pubescence; joints of the pod very adhesive.--Moist grounds, Mass. and Vt. to Minn. and southward, chiefly westward. Branches clothed with both minute and hooked, and longer, spreading, rather glutinous hairs.--Var. VILLOSISSIMUM, Torr. & Gray, has the panicle and upper part of the stem very villous, and leaflets oblong-ovate.--Mo.

8. D. cuspidatum, Torr. & Gray. _Very smooth_ except the panicle; stem straight; _leaflets lanceolate-ovate and taper-pointed_, green both sides, longer than the petiole (3--5'); joints of the pod rhomboid-oblong, smoothish.--Thickets, common. The conspicuous bracts and stipules 3/4' long.

[+][+] _Pods of 3--5 oval joints (not over 3'' long)._

9. D. Illinoense, Gray. Erect (3--5 deg. high); stem and leaves with short rough pubescence; leaflets ovate-oblong or ovate-lanceolate (2--4' long), obtuse, subcoriaceous, cinereous beneath, veins and veinlets prominent, strongly reticulated, the lower leaflets nearly equalling the petiole; pods scarcely over 1' long, sinuate on both margins (deeper below).--Dry ground, Ill. to Iowa and Kan.

[*][*] _Stems (2--5 deg. high) erect; stipules and bracts mostly deciduous, small and inconspicuous; joints of the pod 3--5, triangular or half-rhombic or very unequal-sided rhomboidal, longer than broad, 3'' or less in length; flowers middle-sized._

10. D. laevigatum, DC. _Smooth_ or nearly so throughout; stem straight; _leaflets ovate_, bluntish, pale beneath (2--3' long); panicles minutely rough-pubescent.--Pine woods, N. J. to Fla., west to Mo. and Tex.

11. D. viridiflorum, Beck. Stem _very downy_, rough at the summit; _leaflets broadly ovate_, very obtuse, rough above, _whitened with a soft velvety down underneath_ (2--3' long).--Southern N. Y. to N. J. and Fla., west to Mich., Mo., and Tex.

12. D. Dillenii, Darlingt. Stem pubescent; _leaflets oblong or oblong-ovate_, commonly bluntish, pale beneath, _softly and finely pubescent_, mostly thin (2--3' long).--Open woodlands, common.

13. D. paniculatum, DC. _Nearly smooth_ throughout; stem slender, tall; _leaflets oblong-lanceolate, or narrowly lanceolate, tapering to a blunt point, thin_ (3--5' long); racemes much panicled.--Copses, common.

14. D. strictum, DC. Stem very straight and slender, simple (2--3 deg. high), the upper part and narrow panicle rough-glandular; _leaflets linear, blunt, strongly reticulated, thickish, very smooth_ (1--2' long, 1/4' wide); joints of the pod 1--3, semi-obovate or very gibbous (only 2'' long).--Pine woods, N. J. to Fla. and La.

[*][*][*] _Stipules small and inconspicuous, mostly deciduous; pods of few roundish or obliquely oval or sometimes roundish-rhomboidal joints, 11/2--21/2'' long._

[+] _Stems erect; bracts before flowering conspicuous; racemes densely flowered._

15. D. Canadense, DC. Stem hairy (3--6 deg. high); _leaflets oblong-lanceolate_ or ovate-lanceolate, obtuse, with numerous straightish veins, _much longer than the petiole_ (11/2--3' long); _flowers showy_, larger than in any other species (1/2--{1/3}' long).--Dry rich woods, N. Brunswick to N. C., Minn., and Kan.

16. D. sessilifolium, Torr. & Gray. Stem pubescent (2--4 deg. high); _leaves nearly sessile; leaflets linear_ or linear-oblong, blunt, thickish, reticulated, rough above, downy beneath; branches of the panicle long; _flowers small_.--Copses, Penn. and Ky., west to Mich., Iowa, Mo., and Tex.

[+][+] _Stems ascending (1--3 deg. high); bracts small; racemes or panicles elongated and loosely flowered; flowers small._

17. D. rigidum, DC. Stem branching, _somewhat hoary_, like the lower surface of the leaves, with a close roughish pubescence; _leaflets ovate-oblong_, blunt, thickish, reticulated-veiny, rather rough above, _the lateral ones longer than the petiole_.--Dry hillsides, Mass. to Fla., west to Mich., Mo., and La.

18. D. ciliare, DC. Stem slender, _hairy or rough-pubescent; leaves crowded, on very short hairy petioles; leaflets round-ovate or oval_, thickish, more or less hairy on the margins and underneath (1/2--1' long).--Dry hills and sandy fields, N. Eng. to Fla., west to Mich., Mo., and Tex.

19. D. Marilandicum, F. Boott. _Nearly smooth_ throughout, slender; _leaflets ovate or roundish_, very obtuse, thin, _the lateral ones about the length of the slender petiole_; otherwise resembling the preceding.--Copses, N. Eng. to Fla., west to Mich., Mo., and La.

[+][+][+] _Stems reclining or prostrate; racemes loosely flowered._

20. D. lineatum, DC. Stem minutely pubescent, striate-angled; leaflets orbicular, smoothish (1/2--1' long), much longer than the petiole; pod scarcely stalked in the calyx.--Dry soil, Md. and Va. to Fla. and La.

28. LESPEDEZA, Michx. BUSH-CLOVER.

Calyx 5-cleft; the lobes nearly equal, slender. Stamens diadelphous (9 and 1); anthers all alike. Pods of a single 1-seeded joint (sometimes 2 jointed, with the lower joint empty and stalk-like), oval or roundish, flat, reticulated.--Herbs with pinnately 3-foliolate leaves, not stipellate. Flowers often polygamous, in summer and autumn. (Dedicated to _Lespedez_, the Spanish governor of Florida in the time of Michaux.)

Sec. 1. _Stipules subulate-setaceous; bracts minute; calyx-lobes attenuate; perennial._

[*] _Flowers of two sorts, the larger (violet-purple) perfect, but seldom fruitful, panicled or clustered; with smaller pistillate and fertile but mostly apetalous ones intermixed or in small subsessile clusters; calyx 1--2'' long; pod exserted._

1. L. procumbens, Michx. _Slender, trailing and prostrate_, minutely appressed-hairy to soft-downy; leaflets oval or obovate-elliptical, 3--9'' long; _peduncles very slender, few-flowered_; keel equalling the wings; pod small, roundish, obtuse or acute. (Incl. L. repens, _Bart._)--Dry sandy soil; common.

2. L. violacea, Pers. _Stems upright_ or spreading, slender, branched, rather _sparsely leafy_ and sparingly pubescent; _leaflets thin, broadly oval or oblong_, finely appressed-pubescent beneath; _peduncles very slender, loosely few-flowered_, mostly longer than the leaves; flowers 3--4'' long, the keel often the longest; _pod ovate_, 2--3'' long, nearly glabrous.--Dry copses, N. Eng. to Minn. and E. Kan., south to Fla. and La.

3. L. reticulata, Pers. Stouter, _erect, very leafy; leaflets thickish, linear to linear-oblong_, 6--15'' long, finely appressed-pubescent; _flowers_ (scarcely 3'' long) _clustered on peduncles much shorter than the leaves_, the keel shorter than the standard; _pods ovate, acute_, 2'' long, appressed-subpubescent. (L. violacea, var. angustifolia, _Torr. & Gray_.)--Mass. to Minn., and southward.

4. L. Stuvei, Nutt. _Stems_ upright-spreading, _very leafy_, simple or somewhat branched, _downy with spreading pubescence; leaflets oval or roundish_ varying to oblong or rarely linear-oblong, _silky or white-woolly beneath_ and sometimes above; flowers as in the last, often numerous and crowded; _pods ovate, acuminate_, mostly 3'' long, _downy_.--Mass. to Mich., and south to Va. and Tex.

Var. intermedia, Watson. Pubescence more scanty and usually fine and appressed as in n. 3, but the leaflets oval to oblong; inflorescence often more open; pod of n. 4 or of n. 3. (L. violacea, var. sessiliflora, of _Man._, mainly.)--Mass. to Fla., and west to Mich., Ill., E. Kan., and Ark.

[*][*] _Flowers all alike and perfect, in close spikes or heads; corolla whitish or cream-color with a purple spot on the standard, about the length of the downy 5-parted calyx; pod included; stems upright, wand-like (2--4 deg. high)._

5. L. polystachya, Michx. Stem with mostly spreading pubescence; _petioles 2--6'' long; leaflets from orbicular to oblong-ovate_, hairy; _spikes oblong, on elongated peduncles; pod_ (at maturity) oblong-ovate, pubescent, nearly 3'' long, _hardly shorter than the calyx_. (L. hirta, _Ell._)--Dry hills, common.

6. L. capitata, Michx. _Stems rigid, woolly; petioles very short; leaflets oblong to narrowly oblong_, thickish, reticulated and mostly smooth above, silky or sometimes downy beneath; _heads of flowers globular, on peduncles shorter than the leaves; pod oblong-ovate, pubescent, much shorter than the calyx_.--Dry and sandy soil, N. Eng. to Fla., west to Minn., Mo., and La.

7. L. angustifolia, Ell. Like the last, but mostly appressed-silky, the _leaflets linear, the smaller often oblong heads on distinct and sometimes slender peduncles, the pod round-ovate_, acutish, 11/2--2'' long, _hardly shorter than the calyx_. (L. capitata, var. angustifolia, _Pursh._)--N. J. to Fla., west to Mich., Iowa, and La.

8. L. leptostachya, Gray. Clothed with appressed silky pubescence; stems often branched, slender; _leaflets linear_ to narrowly oblong; _spikes slender, somewhat loosely-flowered_, on peduncles as long as the leaves; _pod ovate, small_ (11/2'' long), _about equalling the calyx_, densely pubescent.--Ill., Iowa, and Minn.

Sec. 2. _Stipules and bracts broad and scarious; calyx-lobes broad; annual._