By Thomas Bruges Flower, Esq. Ill 



Melilotus, (Lam.) Melilot. 

 Linn. CI. xvii. Ord. iii. 



Name. An ancient name of the plant and signifies honey-lotus, 

 being compounded of (meli) Gr. honey, and (lotos) Gr. the lotus. 



1. M. officinalis (Willd.) Officinal or Common Yellow Melilot. 

 Engl. Bot. t. 1340. M. macrorrhiza Pers. Koch. 



Locality. In thickets, hedges, waysides, and borders of fields, 

 sometimes among corn. A. Fl. June, July. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 

 General in all the Districts. 



It differs from the genus Trifoliiim in the flowers being produced 

 in a loose raceme, not in a head or close spike, and in the legume 

 being longer than the calyx, not shorter. The whole plant has a 

 peculiar scent, which becomes more fragrant in a dry state, having 

 some resemblance to that of new hay, or that of " Anthoxanthum 

 odordtum." The odoriferous principle is very fugacious, and was 

 asserted by Vogel to be benzoic acid, but according to Guihourt it is 

 " Comnarine," the odoriferous principle of the Tonquin or Tonqua 

 Bean, " Dipterix odorata." The peculiar flavour of the Gruyere 

 cheese is due to the seeds and flowers of this plant which are 

 bruised and mixed with the curd before it is pressed. 



["M. «rt;ewsts" (Willd.) Engl. Bot. Suppl. t. 2960. M. officin- 

 alis (Koch) should be looked for in the county.] 



Trifolium, (Linn.) Trefoil.^ 

 Linn. CI. xvii. Ord. iii. 



Name. From (treis) Gr. three, and (phullon) Gr. a leaf, descriptive 

 of its ternate leaves, or from the Latin tri, three, and/o/j«m leaf. 



1. T. pratense (Linn.) Meadow Trefoil, Common Purple Clover, 

 Honey-suckle Trefoil. Engl. Bot. t. 1770, St. 15, 11. 



Locality. In meadows and pastures, especially on a limestone, 

 or gravelly soil. P. II. May, September. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 

 Common in all the Districts. 



This species is well known to the farmer as one of the most 

 valuable artificial grasses, as they are called, for fodder or hay, as it 



* This genus is readily distinguished from the Medicks and Trigoneh by the 

 pod, from the Melilots by the compact heads of flowers. 



VOL. VIII. — NO. XXIII. K 



