FLOWERING PLANTS OF THE SEA- SIDE 413 



inches in height, with the lower leaves in whorls of four and the 

 upper ones in opposite pairs. The flowers are minute, and are 

 disposed in small dense clusters. 



Another rare species is the shrub known as the English Tamarisk 

 (Tamarix anglica), which is our only representative of the order 

 TamariscacecB. There is some doubt, however, whether even this 

 is indigenous to Britain, though it occurs in a wild state on the 

 coast. It is a very twiggy shrub growing from six to ten feet in 

 height, with minute scale-like, acute leaves, and slender spikes of 

 small pinkish-white flowers. 



We now pass to the large order of Leguminous plants, charac- 

 terised by their stipuled leaves, and irregular papilionaceous flowers. 

 The latter usually have five united sepals, five petals forming an 

 irregular, butterfly-like corolla, ten stamens, and a superior ovary 

 that develops into a pod. 



Of these the Starry-headed Trefoil (Trifolium stellatum) is 

 very partial to the sea shore, though it is sometimes found some 

 distance inland. The genus to which it belongs is so called on ac- 

 count of its trifoliate leaves which are characteristic of the clovers, 

 trefoils, and vetches, and which have stipules adhering to the petioles. 

 The species under notice receives its name from the star-like 

 arrangement of the long teeth of the hairy calyx. The stem of the 

 plant is procumbent, usually about six or eight inches long, with 

 cylindrical and terminal heads of yellowish-grey flowers. 



The Rough-podded Yellow Vetch (Vicia lutea) is somewhat 

 rare, and occurs principally on very rocky 

 coasts. In common with the other vetches 

 it has pinnate, tendrilled leaves, without 

 a terminal leaflet, one stamen free and 

 the rest united into a bundle, and a long, 

 slender, hairy style. Its stem is tufted 

 and prostrate, averaging about a foot in 

 length, the leaflets long and narrow, and 

 the yellow flowers sessile and solitary. 

 The teeth of the calyx are unequal, and 

 the pods hairy and curved. 



The Sea-Side Everlasting Pea (Lathy- 

 rus maritimus) is a much commoner 

 plant of the coast, and may be readily 

 recognised by its general resemblance to 

 the garden sweet-pea. The genus to which it belongs is closely 



FIG. 300. THE SEA-SIDE 

 EVERLASTING PEA 



