Medicago.] LEGUM1N0SJZ. 95 



M. sati'va, L. ; erect, pod with 2-3 coils downy. Purple Medick, 



Lucerne. 



Hedges and fields, not indigenous ; fl. May-July. — Stem 1-2 ft., fistular, 

 branched. Leaflets narrowly obovate-oblong, toothed, tip notched and 

 apiculate. Floivers ^-| in., in a short dense raceme, yellow blue or purple ; 

 peduncles longer than the leaves, pedicels very short. Pod 3 in. diam. — 

 Distrib. E. Mediterranean region ; naturalized elsewhere. 



** Annual or liennial. Pod indehiscent, reniform, tip coiled, smooth, 1-seeded ; 

 marginal nerve 0. 



2. M. lupuli'na, L. ; procumbent, flowers in ovoid heads, pod reticulate. 

 Black Medick. 



Waste places and fields, N. to Shetlands ; ascends in Derby to 1,200 ft.; Ire- 

 land ; Channel Islands ; fl. May- Aug. — Pubescent or glabrous. Stems 6-24 in., 

 much branched. Leaflets J-| in., obovate, toothed, apiculate ; petiole very 

 short ; stipules ^-cordate. Flowers g in., peduncles longer than the petioles ; 

 pedicels very short. Pods §-£ in., black. — Distrib. Europe, N. Africa, 

 temp. Asia, India ; naturalized elsewhere. 



*** Annual. Pod indehiscent, coiled into a closed helix, many-seeded, "bordered 

 with spines or tubercles, marginal nerve strong. (Stems prostrate. Leaflets 

 toothed. Peduncles few-flowered. Flowers yellow ; calyx-teeth subulate, 

 incurved.) 



3. M. denticula'ta, Willd. ; nearly glabrous, stipules laciniate, pod 

 flat deeply reticulate with 2 or 3 coils and a double row of spines. 



E. and S. counties from York and Norfolk to Cornwall, casual elsewhere; (a 

 denizen? Wats.) ; Ireland ; Channel Islands ; fl. May-Aug.— Stem 6-24 in., 

 furrowed. Leaflets f-1 in. Flowers £ in., umbelled, yellow; pedicels very 

 short. Pod \ in. diam. — Distrib. Mid. and S. Europe, N. Africa, N. Asia, 

 India ; introd. in N. America. 



M. dentiada'ta proper ; spines subulate half the diameter of the pod. — Var. 

 M. apicul a'ta, ; Willd. ; spines of pod very short.— Var. M. lappa'cea, Lamk. ; 

 spines longer than the semi-diameter of the subglobose pod. Bedford. 



4. M. macula'ta, Sibth. ; nearly glabrous, stipules ^-cordate toothed, 

 pod subglobose faintly reticulate with 3-5 coils and a double row of long 

 curved spines. 



Pastures and hedgebanks, from Northumberland southd.; S. Ireland ; Channel 

 Islands; fl. May-Aug — Stems 1-2 ft., numerous. Leaflets £-1 in., obovate 

 obcordate or cuneate, with often a black central spot; stipules herbaceous; 

 petiole hairy. Flowers £ in., yellow. Pod \ in. broad ; margin with 4 ridges. 

 — Distrib. Europe, N. Africa, "W. Asia ; introd. in N. America. 



5. M. minima, Drsr. ; downy, stipules ^-cordate faintly toothed, pod 

 subglobose faintly reticulate with 4 or 5 coils and a double-row of close-set 

 hooked spines. 



S'mdy fields, rare ; E. counties, Norfolk to Kent; Channel Islands; fl. May- 

 July. — Stems 6-10 in., very many, rigid, prostrate. Leaflets ^-| in., from 

 narrowly to very broadly obovate. Flowers h in. Pod i in. diam., margin 

 keeled. — Distrib. From Denmark southd., N. Africa, "W. Asia, Kashmir. 



