461 



Trifoliiim ochroleuciim, L. Wandsworth Common. This species 

 is admitted by Mi-. Watson as a native in the Tliames province 

 C Cybele; i. 263). 



TrifoUum resupinaUim, L. Wandsworth Common ; of course 

 introduced. 



Scorpiurus subvillosus, L. In a cultivated field near to the Wands- 

 worth Railway Station. A southern European species. 



Melilotus parvifiora, Desf. Wandsworth Common ; also in a cul- 

 tivated field to the eastward of the Wandsworth Railway Station. 

 Melilotus supplies a striking example of a genus, embracing three 

 well-known species, besides the present one, becoming thoroughly 

 naturalized in this country. M. parviflora, Desf.^ is very distinct from 

 any other species found in Britain. Racemes dense, in fruit elongated 

 and lax; pods subglobose, very obtuse, distinctly reticulate-rugose, gla- 

 brous, containing each one large, globular seed; leaflets somewhat retuse, 

 serrate, obovate or oblong-cuneate ; flowers small, not twice the length 

 of the calyx, deep yellow. Although a tropical weed, this species 

 appears to be widely diffused over the globe, although in some regions 

 probably as a naturalized plant only. Its extensive geographical 

 range is shown by the following notices of specimens, which were ex- 

 hibited from the herbarium in the University of Edinburgh. In Ru- 

 gel's collection of Florida plants there are specimens of M. parviflora. 

 No. 171, labelled, " Locis arenosis soli expositis et ad litora maris, 

 prope St. Augustine, Florida or., Apr. — Mai. 1848." In the European 

 collection, a specimen, from Professor Edward Forbes, appears to 

 belong to this species. In the Indian collection there are several 

 specimens, showing its prevalence in India, where it appears in the 

 dry season, one of them from Dr. Roxburgh, labelled, in his own 

 handwriting, " Trifol. M. indica var. ? " Another is from Dr. Jame- 

 son, Saharunpore; and in the admirable collection of the Countess of 

 Dalhousie there is a beautiful and characteristic specimen. Dr. 

 Pappe notices this as one of the foreign medicinal plants which have 

 the confidence of the inhabitants of South Africa ; so that the species 

 would appear to be found there in a naturalized condition. It has 

 no claim to be considered native in England. Mr. Babington states 

 that even in the South of France it is only found in lucerne-fields. 

 Mr. Lavvson likewise exhibited specimens from the Society's herba- 

 rium of the other species of Melilotus found in Britain, for the pur- 

 pose of drawing attention to the characters whereby they are 

 distinguished. The researches of Professor Henslow have led him to 

 the conclusion that the seeds of Leguminosae retain vitality longer 



