Descr. Root annual. Stem erect, grooved, smooth. 

 Stipules 2, subulate-lanceolate, sometimes semisagittate, 

 and one of them frequently bifid at the point. Petioles 

 channelled, shorter than the leaf. Leaflets elliptical, ser- 

 rate, with mucronate serratures ; slightly villous under- 

 neath and ribbed with parallel veins ; terminal one on a 

 longer pedicle. Peduncles axillary, erect, twice the length 

 of the leaf. Flowers pale blue in round-ovate heads. 

 Cali/cine segments subulate, the two upper ones shorter 

 than the rest. VexUlum oblong, emarginate, folded so as 

 to inclose the alee and monopetalous carina. Legume 

 smooth, gibbous, somewhat inflated, longer than the tube 

 of the calyx, generally two -seeded, mucronate by the per- 

 sistent lengthened style. 



The whole of this plant, but more especially the flower- 

 ing heads and seeds, possess a powerful scent of Fcenu- 

 greek ; an odour grateful to many, but to some persons 

 extremely disagreeable. It was formerly cultivated in 

 gardens in most parts of Europe for the sake of its scent, 

 and was frequently laid in wardrobes to drive away moths. 

 Caspar Bauhin in his Pinax, mentions the use of this plant 

 made by the Swiss to flavour the " Schabzugar cheese ;" a 

 subject upon which we received from our friend Mr. John 

 Walker the following observations, together with the speci- 

 men from which our drawing was made. cc The cultiva- 

 tion of the Trifolium cozruleum is, I believe, limited to the 

 canton of Glaris for the purpose of flavouring the Schab- 

 zigher cheese, a word differently written even by Germans 

 themselves, from the various opinions regarding its ety- 

 mology. Those who write it Schapzieger derive it from 

 Schaf, a sheep, and Ziege, a goat, stating at the same time 

 that the cheese is made with sheep and goat's milk in equal 

 quantities. This notion is however erroneous, as the 

 cheese is made altogether from skimmed cows milk. A 

 poor cheese, thus made, in the patois of the country is 

 called Zigher, and that word combined with the verb 

 Schaben to grate or scrape, affords a very satisfactory deri- 

 vation, and proves that Schabzigher is the correct orthogra- 

 phy. The clover is cut just before flowering ; the leaves 

 only are used, which are dried, pulverized, sifted, and mixed 

 with the cheese, which is afterwards pressed into wooden 

 moulds. It is principally exported to Russia and Holland ." 



A hardy annual. Native of Germany. Cultivated by 

 Dr. Wm. Turner before 1562. Flowers in August and 

 September. 



