I20 LEGUMINOS^ 



The name Fenugreek comes from foeiiuin grcecum^ Greek hay, 

 this plant being used to scent inferior hay. 



6. Medicago (Medick). — Herbs with leaves as in the two pre- 

 ceding genera; small yellow or violet yfci'ee/^ri-, in short racemes: 

 calyx 5-toothed ; stafttens diadelphous ; pod sickle-shaped or spirally 

 coiled, often spiny, generally indehiscent. (Name of Greek 

 origin, denoting that the plant so named was introduced from 

 Media.) 



* Perennial : somethnes monadelphous : pods 

 dehiscent^ ivithout spines 



i."*^ M. sativa (Lucerne).— An erect species, i — 2 feet high; 

 s 'em hollow ; leaflets oblong, toothed, apiculate ; flowers large, in 



medicXgo arXbica {Spotted MedicK). 



short, close racemes, usually purple ; pod in 2 — 3 loose spiral 

 coils, downy. A cultivated plant, said to have been introduced 

 into Greece from Media by Darius. — Fl. June, July. Perennial. 



2. M. sylvcstris (Wood Medick). — An allied form, with more 

 solid stem ; large yellow or dark green flowers ; and compressed 

 pods, semicircular or ring-shaped, downy. — Sandy places in 

 Norfolk and Suffolk. — Fl. June, July. Perennial. 



3. M. falcdta (Sickle Medick). — An allied but prostrate form, 

 with large yellow flowers and a falcate or sickle-shaped pod. — 

 Found in similar situations. — Fl. June, July. Perennial. 



■^■'^ A?tn7tal or bie?t?iial : pods indehiscent, often spiny 



4. M. lupulina (Black Medick, or Nonsuch). — A prostrate 

 spreading herb ; leaflets inversely egg-shaped, finely toothed ; 



