PEA AND BEAN TRIBE 193 



the ripened pod ; whereas in the next species, the standard is narroAver, and 

 does not cover the legume. 



20. Slender Yellow Trefoil {T. filifdrme). — Heads of flowers loose, 

 from 2 to 5 together ; leaf-stalks all of the same length, and scarcely longer 

 than the stipules ; leaflets inversely heart-shaped ; stem smooth. Plant 

 annual. This rare species, which is the Trifoliam micranfhum of some 

 botanists, is in bloom during the summer months, its yellow flowers spring- 

 ing up on dry pastures, especially near the sea, in England and Ireland. In 

 Scotland it appears to extend no further north than Roxburgh, except as an 

 introduced species. 



9. Bird's-foot Trefoil {Ld(us). 



1. Greater Bird's-foot Trefoil (L. major). — Flowers in umbels, from 

 8 to 10 together ; calyx-teeth awl-shaped, spreading like a star when in bud ; 

 leaflets inversely egg-shaped ; stems nearly erect, tubular. Plant perennial. 

 This is a common plant in damp hedges near streams, sometimes entangling 

 itself, almost like a vetch, among the bushes and other plants, its stem being 

 from one to three feet in height, and very weak. The leaves are sometimes 

 smooth, but usually they are covered more or less with soft silky hairs. Its 

 deep yellow flowers appear in July and August. It is by many botanists 

 known as L. ulicjinosus, on account of its preference for moist and boggy 

 places. 



2. Common Bird's-foot T r eioW {L. cornkiddtus). — Flowers in umbels, 

 8 or 10 together, bending somewhat downwards ; flower-stalks very long ; 

 calyx-teeth straight in the bud, the 3 upper teeth bending inwards; stem 

 prostrate ; leaves inversely egg-shaped, nearly smooth. Plant perennial. 

 Everyone knows the pretty little Bird's-foot Lotus, which is so abundant 

 during May on our pastures, and which is commonly called Lady's Slipper, 

 and in some counties, Shoes-and-stockings, Butter-jags, or Cross-toes. The. 

 flowers are bright yellow, some of them rich brown or orange ; and the 

 young buds are often of a deep crimson tint. The foliage, though generally 

 smooth, is in one variety (termed villosa) thickly clothed with long spread- 

 ing hairs, which invest also the stem and the calyx. A variety occurs also 

 in which the plant has fleshy leaves ; and in another, the leaflets are much 

 longer and narrower than in the ordinary form, so that the plant, in these 

 circumstances, has been described as a different species, under the name of 

 Lotus tenuis. 



The leaves of the Bird's-foot Trefoil become blue when drying for the 

 herbarium : they would, probably, afford a die resembling indigo, which is 

 the produce of a leguminous plant. The French call the flower Le Lotier ; 

 the Germans, Der Schofenkke ; the Dutch, Bolklaver ; and it is the Loto of the 

 Italian and Spaniard. " The name of Lotus," says Professor Burnett, " is 

 probably of Egyptian origin, and has been given to several difterent plants. 

 The ancients seem to have distinguished three sorts : the Tree Lotus, the 

 Marsh Lotus, and the Herb Lotus ; the two former of which, the Zizyphus lotus 

 and Nymphma lotus, retain the original name as a specific, and the latter as a 

 generic name." Both our Common Lotus and the larger species have been 

 recommended by good writers on agriculture as suitable for sowing with 

 white clover. Dr. Henderson wrote much in favour of these plants; and 



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