KIDNEY VETCH 



M 



the lon^' claws or stalks, the standard projecting 5-7 mm., and inclined 

 upwards, with a groove on the lower part of the blade tor the ahe or 

 wings, with two rounded lobes at its base. The wings or ala- are, 

 moreover, quite surrounded by the \exillum or standard. 



Insects grasp the ake and insert their proboscis under the vexillum 

 or standard. The ala- surround the carina or keel, anil it is forcetl 

 down when the former are depressed. Each ala has a deep groove at 

 its Ixise, and the carina has a sharp knob fitting into this groove. 



KiD.VEV X'ktch {.AnI/iyllis \' iilm:tatui, L. ) 



The upper margins of the ahe are unfolded, wnence they remam clo.se 

 together. Hy this means the parts return to their place after the insect 

 presses on them, causing ])o]len to be pressed into thf- slit, formed by 

 the alar margins, by the thickened end of the stamens, the stigma re- 

 maining free from it; but if rubbed it becomes sticky and the pollen 

 adheres. Hence insect visits favour cross-pollination. The pollen- 

 grains are short, si.\-sided prisms with striated angles. The visitors 

 are lionibus s/lvarinn, B. hortoritni, B. viuscorum, Osmia, Lyccena. 



The pod, enclo.sed by the dry, swollen calyx, is sometimes dehi-scent, 

 s[)litting open, and if the calyx persists the seed may be thrown to 

 some distance by contraction of the pod. 



