. 106 THE PEAFLOWER TRIBH. [Medicago, 



The shrubby M. arlorea, and one or two annual species from southern 

 Europe, have been occasionally cultivated in gardens as curiosities, 

 especially the so-called Snail-plant (M. tcutettata). 



1. M. falcata, Linn. (fig. 235). Sickle M. Stock perennial, with 

 decumbent or rarely erect stems 1 to 2 feet long. Stipules narrow 

 and entire. Leaflets obovate oblong or nearly linear. Peduncles 

 axillary, bearing at their extremity a short, close raceme of flowers, 

 rather large for the genus, usually yellow, but sometimes passing into 

 blue or violet. Pod much longer than the calyx, flat, more or less 

 curved, but never forming more than one complete ring. Seeds 2 or 3. 



On dry banks and open places in central and southern Europe, and 

 central Asia, extending eastward to the Baikal and northward to 

 Sweden. In Britain confined to the eastern counties of England, and 

 rare even there. Fl. summer. [M. sylvestris. Fries., with yellower 

 flowers and annular or semicircular pods, is probably a hybrid.] 



2. M. sativa, Linn. (fig. 236). Lucern. Much like M. falcata, and 

 perhaps only a variety produced by cultivation. It is usually more 

 erect, the flowers are almost always violet or blue, and the pod is spirally 

 twisted so as to form 2, or sometimes 3, complete rings or coils. 



Apparently of south-eastern origin, but so generally cultivated, that 

 no station is known for it where it may not have escaped from cultiva- 

 tion. In Britain, certainly introduced only on the borders of fields, 

 and in pastures. Fl. summer. 



3. M. lupulina, Linn. (fig. 237). Black M., Nonsuch. An annual, 

 branching at the base into spreading stems 1 to 2 feet long, and more 

 or less clothed with short, soft hairs. Stipules broad and shortly 

 toothed. Leaflets obovate. Peduncles longer than the leaves, bearing 

 a compact raceme or oblong head of very small bright yellow flowers. 

 Pods small, 1-seeded, black when ripe, glabrous or slightly hairy, 

 kidney-shaped, but marked with veins, curved almost into a complete 

 spire. 



In pastures and waste places, throughout Europe and central and 

 Russian Asia, except the extreme north, and often cultivated among 

 "artificial grasses." Frequent in Britain, extending to northern Scot- 

 land. Fl. the whole season. 



4. M. denticulata, Willd. (fig. 238). Toothed M. An annual, branch- 

 ing at the base into spreading stems from a few inches to above a foot 

 long, glabrous, or with a very few appressed hairs. Stipules bordered 

 with fine teeth. Leaflets obovate or obcordate. Flowers very small, in 

 little heads, on peduncles rather longer than the leaflets. Pod spirally 

 twisted, formed of 2 or 3 loose, flat coils, elegantly veined on the sur- 

 face, and usually edged with 2 rows of more or less hooked or curved 

 prickles, but not furrowed between them. 



In cultivated and waste places, especially near the sea, very abundant 

 in the Mediterranean region and west central Asia, and carried out 

 with cultivation to many parts of the world. In Britain it appears to 

 have established itself in some of the southern and eastern counties of 

 England. Fl. spring and summer. A variety with smaller pods, with 

 the prickles very short and not hooked, is M. apiculata, Willd. [Another 

 with pricklqs longer than the semi-diameter of the subglobular pod is 

 M. lappacea, Lamk.] 



& 5. maculata, Willd. (fig. 239). Spotted M. An almost glabro^ 



