1. Cracca Virginiàna L. Cat-Gut. Wild Sweet-Pea. Goat's Rue

Fig. 2521

Cracca virginiana L. Sp. Pl. 752. 1753.

Galega virginiana L. Sp. Pl. Ed. 2, 1062. 1763.

Tephrosia virginiana Pers. Syn. 2: 329. 1807.

Erect or ascending, more or less villous or silky-pubescent with whitish hairs, 1°-2° high. Roots long, fibrous, tough; leaves short-petioled; leaflets 7-25, oblong, linear-oblong or the terminal one oblanceolate, narrowed or cuneate at the base, rounded, mucronate acutish or emarginate at the apex. 9"-12" long, 2"-4" wide; flowers yellowish-purple, 6"-9" long, crowded in a terminal often compound nearly sessile raceme; pedicels 2"-4" long; pod linear, densely pubescent, 1'-2' long.

In dry sandy soil, Maine to Minnesota, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana and northern Mexico: western races more copiously pubescent than eastern, have been regarded as specifically distinct as Cracca holo-sericea (Nutt.) Britten & Baker. Turkey-, rabbit- or hoary pea. Devil's shoestrings. June-July.

2. Cracca Spicàta (Walt.) Kuntze. Loose-Flowered Goat's Rue

Fig. 2522

Galega spicata Walt. Fl. Car. 188. 1788.

Tephrosia spicata T. & G. Fl. N. A. 1: 296.

1838.

Cracca spicata Kuntze, Rev. Gen. Pl. 175. 1891.

Villous-pubescent with long brown hairs, decumbent or straggling, much branched, 1°-2° long. Leaves few and distant, short-petioled; leaflets 9-15, short-stalked, oval, oblanceolate or narrowly obovate, narrowed, cuneate or rounded at the base, obtuse, mu-cronate or emarginate at the apex, 9"-15" long, 3"-6" wide; peduncles lateral and terminal, slender, 4-10' long; inflorescence interrupted, very loose, 2'-5' long; flowers purplish, 6"-8" long; pod linear, finely pubescent, about 2' long, 22" wide.

In dry soil, Delaware to Florida, Tennessee, Alabama and Louisiana. This was included by Linnaeus in the preceding species. June-Aug.

3. Cracca Hispidula (Michx.) Kuntze. Few-Flowered Goat's Rue

Fig. 2523

Galega hispidula Michx. Fl. Bor. Am. 2: 68. 1803.

Tephrosa hispidula Pers. Syn. 2: 329. 1807.

Cracca hispidula Kuntze, Rev. Gen. Pl 175. 1891.

More or less pubescent, procumbent or straggling, much branched, slender, 1°-2° long. Leaves petioled; leaflets 5-19, short-stalked, oval, oblong, oblanceolate or obovate, narrowed, rounded or cuneate at the base, obtuse, emarginate or acute at the apex; peduncles lateral or terminal, slender, 2'-4' long; flowers red-purple, few, terminal, about 6" long; pod linear, l'-l 1/2' long, 2" wide, minutely pubescent.

Dry sandy soil, Virginia to Florida, Alabama and Louisiana. May-Aug.