equalling or exceeding the wings and blunt keel, its sides reflexed or
spreading. Stamens diadelphous. Pod several--many-seeded, various,
mostly turgid, one or both sutures usually projecting into the cell,
either slightly or so as to divide the cavity lengthwise into
two.--Chiefly herbs (ours perennials), with odd-pinnate leaves and
spiked or racemed flowers. Mature pods are usually necessary for certain
identification of the species. (The ancient Greek name of a leguminous
plant, as also of the ankle-bone; but the connection between the two is
past all guess.)
I. _Pod turgid, completely or imperfectly 2-celled by the intrusion of
the dorsal suture, the ventral suture being not at all or less deeply
inflexed._--ASTRAGALUS proper.
[*] _Pod plum-shaped, succulent, becoming thick and fleshy, indehiscent,
not stipitute, completely 2-celled._
1. A. caryocarpus, Ker. (GROUND PLUM.) Pale and minutely
appressed-pubescent; leaflets narrowly oblong; flowers in a short
spike-like raceme; _corolla violet-purple; fruit glabrous,
ovate-globular, more or less pointed_, about {2/3}' in diameter, _very
thick-walled_, cellular or corky when dry.--Sask. and Minn. to Mo.,
Col., and Tex. May.
2. A. Mexicanus, A. DC. Smoother, or pubescent with looser hairs,
larger; leaflets roundish, obovate, or oblong; flowers larger (10--12''
long); calyx softly hairy; _corolla cream-color, bluish only at the tip;
fruit globular, very obtuse_ and pointless, 1' or more in diameter;
otherwise like the last.--Prairies and open plains, Ill. to Kan., south
to Tex. The unripe fruits of both resemble green plums--whence the
popular name--and are eaten, raw or cooked, by travellers.
3. A. Plattensis, Nutt. Loosely villous; stipules conspicuous; leaflets
oblong, often glabrous above; flowers crowded in a short spike or oblong
head, cream-color often tinged or tipped with purple; _fruit ovate,
pointed_, and with the calyx _villous_.--Gravelly or sandy banks, Minn.
to Ind. and Ala., west to Col. and Tex.--Var. TENNESSEENSIS, Gray, has
the pod oblong and slightly curved, and much less fleshy. May.
[*][*] _Pod dry, coriaceous, cartilaginous or membranous, dehiscent._
[+] _Pod completely 2-celled, sessile._
4. A. mollissimus, Torr. _Stout, decumbent, densely silky-villous
throughout and tomentose_; leaflets 19--29, ovate-oblong; peduncles
elongated; spikes dense, with rather _large violet flowers_ (6--12''
long); pod narrow-oblong (5--9'' long), glabrous, somewhat obcompressed
and _sulcate at both sutures_, at length incurved.--Neb. to Kan. and
Tex., west to Col. The most common "loco"-plant, and said to be very
poisonous to cattle.
5. A. Canadensis, L. _Tall and erect_ (1--4 deg. high), _somewhat pubescent
or glabrate_; leaflets 21--27, oblong; _flowers greenish cream-color_,
very numerous, in long dense spikes, pods crowded, oblong (6'' long),
glabrous, _terete, scarcely sulcate_ and only on the back, nearly
straight.--River-banks, western N. Y. to N. Ga., and far westward.
6. A. adsurgens, Pall. Ascending or decumbent (4--18' high), cinereous
with minute appressed pubescence or glabrate; leaflets about 21,
narrowly or linear-oblong; spike dense, with medium-sized pale or
purplish flowers; _pubescence of calyx appressed_; pod oblong (4--5''
long), _finely pubescent, triangular-compressed, with a deep dorsal
furrow, straight_.--Red River valley, Minn., to W. Kan., and westward.
(Asia.)
7. A. hypoglottis, L. _Slender_ (6'--2 deg. long), diffusely procumbent or
ascending, _with a rather loose pubescence_ or nearly glabrous; leaflets
15--21, oblong, obtuse or retuse; _flowers violet, capitate; calyx
loosely pubescent; pod_ as in the last, but _ovate_ and
_silky-villous_.--Red River valley, Minn., to central Kan. and westward.
[+][+] _Pod not completely 2-celled._
[++] _Pod stipitate, pendent._
8. A. alpinus, L. _Diffuse_ (6--12' high), smooth or slightly hairy;
leaflets 13--25; flowers _violet-purple_, or at least the keel tipped
with violet or blue; calyx campanulate; pod narrowly oblong,
short-acuminate, _black-pubescent_, triangular-turgid, deeply grooved on
the back, straight or curved, its stipe usually rather exceeding the
calyx.--Rocky banks, Lab. to Maine and N. Vt.
9. A. Robbinsii, Gray. Nearly smooth and _erect_ (1 deg. high), slender;
leaflets 7--11; calyx more oblong; _flowers white_; pod oblong (6''
long), obtuse or acutish, _minutely darkish-pubescent_, somewhat
laterally compressed, _not dorsally sulcate_ or obsoletely so, straight
or somewhat incurved, rather abruptly narrowed at base into the often
included stipe.--Rocky ledges, Vt.
10. A. racemosus, Pursh. Stout (1--2 deg. high), erect or ascending,
appressed-pubescent or glabrate; leaflets 13--25; flowers numerous,
white, pendent; calyx campanulate, gibbous, white-pubescent; pod
straight, narrow, 1' long, acute at both ends, triangular-compressed,
deeply grooved on the back, the ventral edge acute.--Neb. to Mo., and
westward.
[++][++] _Pod sessile._
11. A. gracilis, Nutt. Subcinereous, slender (1 deg. high or more); leaflets
11--17, linear, obtuse or retuse; racemes loose; flowers small (3''
long); _pods pendent_, 2--3'' long, coriaceous, elliptic-ovate, _concave
on the back_, the ventral suture prominent, _white-hairy_, at length
glabrous, _transversely veined_.--Minn. to Neb. and Mo., and westward.
12. A. distortus, Torr. & Gray. Low, diffuse, many-stemmed, subglabrous;
leaflets 17--25, oblong, emarginate; flowers in a short spike,
pale-purple; pod ovate- or lance-oblong, curved, 6--9'' long, glabrous,
thick-coriaceous, somewhat grooved on the back, the ventral suture
nearly flat.--Ill. to Iowa, Mo., Ark. and Tex.
13. A. lotiflorus, Hook. Hoary or cinereous with appressed hairs; stems
very short; leaflets 7--13, lance-oblong; flowers yellowish, in
few-flowered heads, with peduncles exceeding the leaves or very short;
_calyx campanulate, the subulate teeth exceeding the tube_; pod
oblong-ovate, 9--12'' long, acuminate, _acute at base_, canescent, the
back more or less impressed, the acute ventral suture nearly
straight.--Sask. to Neb. and Tex., west to the mountains.
14. A. Missouriensis, Nutt. Short-caulescent, hoary with a closely
appressed silky pubescence; leaflets 5--15, oblong, elliptic or obovate;
flowers few, capitate or spicate, 5--8'' long, violet; _calyx oblong,
the teeth very slender_; pod oblong (1' long), acute, _obtuse at base_,
pubescent, nearly straight, obcompressed or obcompressed-triangular,
depressed on the back and the ventral suture more or less prominent,
transversely rugulose.--Sask. to Neb. and N. Mex.
II. _Pod 1-celled, neither suture being inflexed or the ventral more
intruded than the dorsal._--PHACA.
15. A. Cooperi, Gray. Nearly smooth, erect (1--2 deg. high); leaflets
11--21, elliptical or oblong, somewhat retuse, minutely hoary beneath;
flowers white, rather numerous in a short spike; calyx dark-pubescent;
pod coriaceous, _inflated, ovate-globose_ (6--9'' long), _acute,
glabrous, slightly sulcate on both sides_, cavity webby.--Ont. and
western N. Y. to Minn. and Iowa.
16. A. flexuosus, Dougl. Ashy-puberulent, ascending (1--2 deg. high);
leaflets 11--21, mostly narrow; flowers small, in loose racemes; pod
thin-coriaceous, _cylindric_ (8--11'' long, 2'' broad), pointed,
straight or curved, puberulent, very shortly stipitate.--Red River
Valley, Minn., to Col.
22. OXYTROPIS, DC.
Keel tipped with a sharp projecting point or appendage; otherwise as in
Astragalus. Pod often more or less 2-celled by the intrusion of the
ventral suture.--Our species are low, nearly acaulescent perennials,
with tufts of numerous very short stems from a hard and thick root or
rootstock, covered with scaly adnate stipules; pinnate leaves of many
leaflets; peduncles scape-like, bearing a head or short spike of
flowers. (Name from [Greek: o)xy/s], _sharp_, and [Greek: tro/pis],
_keel_.)
[*] _Leaves simply pinnate._
1. O. campestris, DC., var. caerulea, Koch. _Pubescent or smoothish_;
leaflets lanceolate or oblong; flowers violet or blue, sometimes pure
white; _pods_ ovate or oblong-lanceolate, of a _thin or papery_
texture.--N. Maine to Labrador.
2. O. Lamberti, Pursh. _Silky with fine appressed hairs_; leaflets
mostly linear; flowers larger, purple, violet, or sometimes white; _pods
cartilaginous or firm-coriaceous_ in texture, silky-pubescent, strictly
erect, cylindraceous-lanceolate and long-pointed, almost 2-celled by
intrusion of the ventral suture.--Dry plains, Sask. and Minn. to Mo. and
Tex., west to the mountains.
[*][*] _Leaflets numerous, mostly in fascicles of 3 or 4 or more along
the rhachis._
3. O. splendens, Dougl. Silvery silky-villous (6--12' high); scape
spicately several to many-flowered; flowers erect-spreading; pod ovate,
erect, 2-celled, hardly surpassing the very villous calyx.--Plains of
Sask. and W. Minn., to N. Mex. and the Rocky Mts.
23. GLYCYRRHIZA, Tourn. LIQUORICE.
Calyx with the two upper lobes shorter or partly united. Anther-cells
confluent at the apex, the alternate ones smaller. Pod ovate or
oblong-linear, compressed, often curved, clothed with rough glands or
short prickles, scarcely dehiscent, few-seeded. The flower, etc.,
otherwise as in Astragalus.--Long perennial root sweet (whence the name,
from [Greek: glyky/s], _sweet_, and [Greek: r(i/za], _root_); herbage
glandular-viscid; leaves odd-pinnate, with minute stipules; flowers in
axillary spikes, white or bluish.
1. G. lepidota, Nutt. (WILD LIQUORICE.) Tall (2--3 deg. high); leaflets
15--19, oblong-lanceolate, mucronate-pointed, sprinkled with little
scales when young, and with corresponding dots when old; spikes
peduncled, short; flowers whitish; pods oblong, beset with hooked
prickles, so as to resemble the fruit of Xanthium on a smaller
scale.--Minn. to Iowa and Mo., and westward; Ft. Erie, Ont.
24. AESCHYNOMENE, L. SENSITIVE JOINT-VETCH.
Calyx 2-lipped; the upper lip 2-, the lower 3-cleft. Standard roundish;
keel boat-shaped. Stamens diadelphous in two sets of 5 each. Pod
flattened, composed of several easily separable joints.--Leaves
odd-pinnate with several pairs of leaflets, sometimes sensitive, as if
shrinking from the touch (whence the name, from [Greek: ai)schynome/ne],
_being ashamed_.)
1. AE. hispida, Willd. Erect, rough-bristly annual; leaflets 37--51,
linear; racemes few-flowered; flowers yellow, reddish externally; pod
stalked, 6--10-jointed.--Along rivers, S. Penn. to Fla. and Miss. Aug.
25. CORONILLA, L.
Calyx 5-toothed. Standard orbicular; keel incurved. Stamens diadelphous,
9 and 1. Pod terete or 4-angled, jointed; the joints oblong.--Glabrous
herbs or shrubs, with pinnate leaves, and the flowers in umbels
terminating axillary peduncles. (Diminutive of _corona_, a _crown_,
alluding to the inflorescence.)
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.