26 FLOWERS OF THE HILLS AND DRV PLACES 



Sainfoin (( )n()brychis vicia-folia, Scop.) 



The distribution of this plant in the North Temperate Zone is 

 West and S. Etirope and Nijrthcrn Asia, and it is unl-:no\vn before this 

 period in early beds. in drcat lirilain it is found in Somerset, Wilts, 

 Dorset, Hants, and in the Thames district; it is absent from S. Kent, 

 but occurs throuo;hout Anglia except in Hunts, and not in West 

 (iloucestershire. Monmouth, or Stafford, in the Severn district; in 

 Wales it is found only in tilamori^an, and elsewhere is introduced. 

 Watson regards it as doubtfulK' indigenous in Mid and S.-Iv. Eng- 

 land, and it is usually a relic oi cultivation. It is a plant of hilly, rocky 

 ground, and is a feature of the south country ami the eastern counties, 

 dispersed by farming operations, but as a fodder plant turns up. or is 

 likely to do so, wherever quarrying is in progress. 



The stems are long, suberect, rather rigid, with numerous leaves, 

 with leaflets each side of a common stalk, consisting of 3-12 oblong 

 or linear lance-shaped leaflets, shortly stalked, and with a blunt point, 

 entire, practically smooth, dark-green, with an odd or terminal one. 



The flowers are in close racemes, rose-red, with dark \eins. The 

 tube of the caly.x is silk\-, and it is short with awl-like teeth. The 

 wings of the flowers are very short. The pods are dark-l)rown, nettcil, 

 rough, roughly semicircular, downy, and contain one seed. 



The Sainfoin grows to a height of iS in. It flowers during |une, 

 juK, and August. It is a most beautiful i^'rennial which is quite 

 worthy of cultivation by the horticulturist. 



The flower resembles those of Mc/i/otiis antl Jrifo/iiiin iTpciis. luit 

 in the Sainfoin the carina or keel does what the ake or wings did with 

 it in the latter case, springing back after being pressed down. The 

 ali'e are reduced and just co\er t\w. claw of the carina, not allowing 

 the removal of honey laterally. The insect settles on the carina, which 

 is a lever for downward rotation, and its elasticity causes it later to 

 recoil. The stigma is prominent and when tlie flower is visited by 

 a bee it touches the liee's abtlomen, in okk'r flowers protrutling \\ mm. 

 beyond the carina. Cross-pollination is accomplished, the flowers being 

 attractive, and the caly.x tube is short (2-3 mm.). The vexillum is 

 broad and ascends obliquely, being a fulcrum or le\er for the bee's 

 head when pushing liack the carina with its legs. Honey and pollen 

 are both accessible to short-lipped bees. The visitors are Hymenoptera 

 (Apida), Diptera (Syrphidie); Lepidoptera, Green-veined White Butter- 

 fly [Pieris itapi), lA'ccciia, Zvoccna, Eitclidia glypliica, Pliisia gainiiia. 



