1. Parental clones selected from plants originating from F.C. numbers 24798, 32129, 32142, 32144, 32667, and one plant of unknown origin. Source nurseries of about 500 creeping-rooted or rhizomatous plants were established in fall of 1954 at Marie and Osceola, Arkansas. Fifty clones were selected and established in P.C. nursery in 1957 at Fayetteville. P.C. and S1 seed were obtained in 1957. A progeny performance test was established at Fayetteville and Keiser, Arkansas, in 1958 which included P.C. and S1 progenies, parental clones, and variety checks. Spaced plants were used to evaluate clones (1958-1960). Nine parental clones were selected on basis of P.C. and S1 progenyperformance during 3-year period.
2. Area of probable adaptation includes northern Arkansas, northeastern Oklahoma, eastern Kansas, Missouri, southern Illinois, southern Indiana, western Kentucky, and western Tennessee. Primary uses are for grazing, dehydration, and hay. Test sites include Fayetteville and Keiser, Arkansas, and Urbana and Carbondale, Illinois. Proposed areas of merchandising are Arkansas (primarily) and other areas of probable adaptation listed above.
3. Flower color is quite variable, ranges from white through shades of yellow, green and purple. Wide, low crowns and relatively small stems under Arkansas conditions. Winter dormancy in Arkansas similar to Vernal, Culver, and Rhizoma. Semi-decumbent with some variation under grazing or thin stands. Mostly erect in dense stands. Relatively short internodes and a large number of relatively small stems per crown. Good resistance to spotted alfalfa aphid, above average tolerance to leafhoppers, some resistance to flower thrips, moderate resistance to bacterial wilt, common leaf spot, and downy mildew. Pods tightly coiled. A few sickle-shaped pods occur under Arkansas conditions.
4. Breeder seed to be produced at Fayetteville, Arkansas, in an isolated spaceplanted nursery. Equal amounts of seed from each of the nine parental clones will be composited and designated breeder seed. Foundation seed to be produced from breeder seed. Certified seed to be produced from foundation seed or breeder seed. Seed classes are limited to breeder, foundation, and certified.
5. Probably in 1971.