Part 19

The leaf is compound; the 3 leaflets are oval, slightly notched, or heart-shaped, with obscurely toothed margins; of fine texture, and smooth surface. In color it is a rather dark, cool green, sometimes faintly marked with a triangular band of lighter color on each leaflet.

The upper and larger petal of the little flower is slightly turned back; the color of the corolla is white, the small 5-parted calyx being green. The flowers, on their very tiny foot-stems, are gathered in a close, round head, which is set on a slender, light green stem that springs from the stalk.

As the flowers mature they turn downwards from the head: the trefoil leaf is of especial elegance in shape and color. Roadsides and lawns thickly strewn with these pretty Clover heads, sweeten the air with the wholesome grass-like fragrance of their odorous flowers,--they are beloved by bees.

*Alsatian Clover.* Trifolium hybridum. *Alsike.*

Found in June and July, in meadows and fields.

The stalk (from 8 to 12 inches in height) is branching, leafy at intervals, and curving in growth; it is slender, round, and finely grooved. Color light green, speckled with dull crimson.

The leaf is compound, the 3 leaflets small and narrow; the margin is finely notched, the texture delicate and smooth to the touch; the color is a cool light green, with no clover-markings. The leaf is set on slender grooved stems, with a pair of flaring wings at the junction with the stalk; the arrangement is alternate.

The small flower is very like the White Clover, but tinted a beautiful rose color. Set in a loose, small, round head, on a terminal or side stem.

When advanced in age the lower flowers of the head turn downwards, after the manner of the White Clover, which it closely resembles except for the color. It is honey sweet in perfume.

*Crimson Clover.* Trifolium pratense.

Found, from June to September, growing in meadows, fields, and waysides.

The stalk (from 6 to 15 inches high) is rather large, branching, leafy, strong-fibred, grooved slightly, and roughened by the presence of short hairs. Color, light green.

The leaflets are 3, of varying shape, oval, long oval, or heart-shaped; the margin is slightly irregular, the texture thin; the color is a fine cool green, lighter underneath, and the upper surface of each leaflet is marked with a pale triangular patch in the middle. The leaf is set on a slender stem, with a pair of bristly-pointed, woolly, green and white, membrane-like wings at the junction of the stalk; the arrangement is alternate.

The corolla is large, its upper petal narrow and erect; in color, all shades of crimson to a violet tint. The 5-parted calyx has long thread-like feathery tips; it is light green. The flower-head is large, close, and round or oval; it is set on a terminal or side stem. Beneath the head, like a collar, are found 3 membrane-like leaves.

The violet-crimson flower-head is modified, by the green calices, into excellent harmony with the fine cool green of the leafage.

*Yellow Clover.* Trifolium agrarium. *Hop Clover.*

Found, during June and July, in dry fields and waysides.

The stalk branches slightly, and is leafy; it is slender, round, and smooth, and grows from 6 to 12 inches high. The color is light green.

The 3 leaflets of the compound leaf are long and narrow, with an exceedingly fine texture and smooth surface. The leaves, on very short stems, are placed in groups, or singly and alternately, upon the stalk; at the base of the stem, and uniting with it for half its length, occur a pair of enfolding wings.

The flowers are very small, and gathered into a close head, that is set on a little stem growing from the angle of a leaf; the corollas are yellow, the minute calices being green.

The flowers open from the bottom of the head upward, the mature blossoms becoming dry and husky, and turning down after the manner of the hop, as the bloom continues towards the summit; the heads thus show a harmonious gradation of color from brownish-yellow at the base, through yellow, to the yellow-green of the buds at the top of the head. The plant often grows in clumps of a considerable size.

*Stone Clover.* Trifolium arvense. *Rabbit-Foot Clover.* *Pussy Plant.*

Found in August and September; growing in poor, dry soil.

The slender, branching stalk varies from 4 to 10 inches in height, and is smooth, or slightly rough, and light green.

The leaf has 3 long, narrow, and blunt-pointed leaflets,--their midribs conspicuous to the very tips; the margin is entire, the texture fine and downy to the touch, and the color is a rather light green. The leaves, on short stems, are arranged alternately and near together.

The small, greenish-white corolla is shorter than the calyx, which is long, and green, with 5 feathery tips that are rose colored and give to the head its peculiar gray-pink hue. The flower-heads are oblong; 2 or more are found on a branch.

A faint perfume belongs to the newly opened flowers. Doubtless the children’s name, “Pussy Plant,” points to the resemblance the silky, green-rose head bears to the pussy-willow catkins.

*Nonesuch.* Medicago lupulina. *Black Medick.*