22 ENGLISH BOTANY. 
in districts where Lucerne is cultivated, but having no claims to 
be considered indigenous. 
(England, Scotland.] Perennial. Summer and Autumn. 
Stems stout, erect, 1 to 2 feet high, hollow, cylindrical with 
raised lines. Leaves stalked; leaflets elliptical-oblanceolate, $ to 
1+ inch long, denticulate towards the apex, the central one 
inserted on the common petiole above the others. Stipules lanceo- 
late-subulate. Flowers 4 inch long, bluish-purple, more rarely 
yellowish, in axillary stalked racemose heads, which are from ¢ to 
14 inch long. Pedicels shorter than the calyx. Calyx with the 
teeth triangular-subulate, nearly equal, longer than the tube. 
Standard longer than the calyx-teeth and exceeding the wings and 
keel. Mature pod rupturing the calyx, olive-brown, forming a 
helix of about + inch in diameter, and generally making about 23 
turns, pubescent with adpressed hairs and faintly reticulated. 
Seeds yellowish-brown, rectangular-oval, smooth, dim, with a deep 
depression at the hilum. Plant bright-green, with scattered ad- 
pressed pubescence. 
The yellowish-flowered variety is considered by Koch and Fries 
to be the M. media of Persoon, while Godron and Boreau refer 
that name to M. sylvestris (Fries). 
Common Lucerne. 
French, Zuserne. German, Luzerne. 
As a fodder plant the Lucerne has been cultivated for ages in the South of Europe. 
It was brought into notice in England by Harte, in 1757, and since that time has 
been commonly cultivated in light lands. It grows very rapidly, and may be cut in 
favourable seasons twice or three times. On land adapted to it it will yield good crops 
for six or seven years, or longer. At one time Lucerne was a very favourite plant 
with the farmer, and it is said that cattle thrive better on it than on any other kind 
of food. One writer estimates that three horses might be kept on ? of an acre. 
Various circumstances, however, have interfered with the regular culture of this crop 
in our own country, and its value as an agricultural plant has been much discussed. 
According to Sir Humphry Davy, its nutritive properties are, when compared with 
red clover and saintfoin, as 23 to 39. Pigs, sheep, and cows eat it greedily ; but it 
must be given only in moderate quantities, or disease is likely to ensue. 
SPECIES IL—MEDICAGO FALCATA. Zinn. 
Pirates COCXXXV. CCCXXXVI. 
Rootstock woody. Stems solid, decumbent at the base, diffusely 
branched. Branches spreading. Flowers numerous, in short 
racemes or corymbose-racemose heads. Pods downy, falcate, semi- 
circular, or twisted into a ring. 
