182 LEGUMINOS^ 



of this kingdom. Its yellow flowers are produced from May to August. A 

 variety occurs in which both leaves and stems are hoary. 



4. Toothed Medick [M. denticuldta). — Leaflets inversely heart-shaped, 

 nearly smooth ; stipules jagged ; flowers 2 — 4 together ; legumes loosely 

 spiral, flat, and prickled. Plant annual. This species, with its small yellow 

 flowers, opening from May to July, is very rare. It is found occasionally 

 in the Southern and Eastern counties of England. Its seed-vessel is different 

 from that of any other of our wild kinds. It is broad, flat, and loosely spiral, 

 beautifully netted with veins. In one variety the prickles are awl-shaped, 

 and often curved ; and in another they are small and straight. 



5. Purple Medick, or Lucerne {M. sativa). — Stem usually erect ; 

 leaflets oblong and toothed ; flowers somewhat racemed ; flower-stalks 

 generally shorter than the bracts ; legumes downy and loosely spiral. Plant 

 perennial. The purple, violet-coloured, or yellow flowers of this Medick are not 

 uncommon in hedges, pastures, and field-borders, during June and July ; but 

 the plant is not truly wild. It has escaped from the field of Lucerne, which 

 is an occasional object on our landscape. Columella and several Roman 

 writers highly extolled this plant, generally agreeing that it was superior to 

 clover as food for domestic animals ; and its culture is of unknown antiquity 

 in Spain, Italy, and the South of France. It is still grown to a great extent 

 in Persia and Peru, and mown in both countries all the year round. British 

 writers on agriculture mention it as occasionally grown in this kingdom in 

 the olden times; but its culture was not general till about the middle of 

 last century. Our name of Lucerne is derived from the patois of Languedoc, 

 in which the plant is called Lauserda. The species is also known in France 

 as La Fois de Bourgogne ; and in Spain is called Alfalfa. It is a deeply- 

 rooting plant ; but being less hardy than red clover, and requiring longer 

 time for its full growth, is less frequently sown by farmers. This plant is 

 very widely diffused in Afghanistan, and grows in profusion with several of 

 the Trefoils in the meadows near Cabul. These are rendered quite beautiful 

 in the summer season by the abundance of the handsome clover called 

 Trifolium giganteum, and which, with the Lucerne, furnishes abundant crops 

 of hay to the people of the country. 



6. Yellow Sickle Medick {3L falcdta). — Stem bending, slightly hairy; 

 leaflets oblong, toothed ; flowers numerous, in racemes ; legume flat, downy, 

 sickle-shaped, or once twisted. Plant perennial. This Medick is very 

 similar to the Lucerne ; but it is a larger plant, and its flowers are usually 

 yellow, though occasionally violet-coloured. It is sometimes called Swiss 

 Lucerne, because it is often cultivated in some poor soils in Switzerland. It 

 is rare in our country, and is not truly wild, though found in some counties, 

 on dry gravelly banks or on old walls. Its flowers appear in June and 

 July. 



6. MeliUtus. 



\. Common Yellow Melilot {M. altissima). — Stems erect; leaflets 

 narrow, inversely egg-shaped, and serrated; flowers in one-sided stalked 

 racemes ; petals equal in length ; legumes two-seeded, wrinkled. Plant 

 annual. This can hardly be called a common plant, though growing 



