76 



CALYCIFLORiE 



hunger." Sir W. J. Hooker. Woods ; not uncommon, especially 

 in the west of England. Fl. May, June. Perennial. 



10. L. Niger (Black Bitter Vetch). Stem branched^ erect, 1-2 

 feet high, angular, but not winged ; stipules very narrow ; root 

 not tuberous ; flowers 6-8 together ; the plant turns black in dying. 

 A very rare Scottish species. Fl. June to August. Perennial. 



15. Ornithopus (Bird' s- foot) 



1. 0. perpusillus (Common Bird's-foot). A 

 minute and very beautiful plant, with spreading, 

 prostrate stem ; downy leaves of 6-12 pairs of 

 leaflets and an odd one ; heads of 2 or 3 exceed- 

 ingly small cream-coloured flowers, veined with 

 crimson, with a leaf at the base of each head ; 

 and jointed legumes, which become curved as 

 they ripen, and bear a resemblance to a bird's 

 foot. Sandy heaths ; common. Fl. July, 

 August. Perennial. 



2. 0. ebractealus (Sand Bird's-foot). In many 

 respects similar to the last ; the flowers are 

 larger, the plant smooth and glaucous, and there 

 is no leaf below the flower-head. Found in the 

 Channel and Scilly Islands. Fl. June to August. 

 Annual. 



Ornithopus Per- 

 pusillus (Common 

 Bird's-foot) 



16. Hippocrepis {Horse-shoe Vetch) 



1. H. comosa (Tufted Horse-shoe Vetch). 

 The only British species. A low, tufted plant, 

 with much-branched stems, which are woody 

 at the base, and elegant leaves, composed of 

 6-12 narrow leaflets. The umbels of yellow 

 flowers might be mistaken for those of Lotus 

 eorniculatus, but for the curious structure of 

 the seed-vessels, which are shaped like a series 

 of horse-shoes, united by their extremities. 

 The plant may also be distinguished by its 

 pinnate leaves. Common on chalky banks. 

 Fl. May to August. Perennial. 



17. Onobrychis (Saint-foin) 



I. 0. sativa (Common Saint-foin). The only 

 British species. A handsome plant, often culti- 

 vated as fodder in dry, chalky, and gravelly 

 soils. The stems are ascending, 1-2 feet long ; 

 the leaves are composed of 8-12 pairs of oblong 



Hippocrepis Comosa 

 {Tufted Horse-shoe Vetch) 



