Purple Clover.Medicago sativa.Alfalfa.Medick.Lucerne.
Found, from July to September, in dry fields and sandy barrens.
The bushy, branching stalk reaches 2 or 3 feet in height; it is not very large, and is smooth; light green in color.
The 3 leaflets of the compound leaf are long and narrow, or a pointed-oblong shape, widest near the abruptly-tapering tip; the margin is very slightly irregular, except for a sharp little needle-point at the tip; the surface is downy. Each leaflet is provided with a tiny foot-stem, the middle having the longest one. The color is a cool green, lighter underneath; without markings. The leaves are set on slender stems, arranged in groups, alternately; a pair of slender, fine wings occur at the junction of the stalk.
The flower is smaller than that of the Crimson Clover; it has a fine texture, and the petals are a pure purple color, the upper petal, which is much curled back, being marked with delicate dark lines; the small calyx is pale green. The flower-head is a short and club-shaped spike.
An individual trait is the charming little jerk in the line at the spring of the central leaflet.