104 LEGUMINOS^!. [Astragalus. 



stalked ; style filiform, beardless, stigma terminal ; ovules many. Pod 

 2-valved, often longitudinally 2-celled by the inflexion of the suture next 

 to the keel — Distrib. Temp, and cold regions ; most abundant in Asia ; 

 absent from S. Africa and Australia ; species 500. — Etym. doubtful. 



1. A. glycyphyl'los, L. ; glabrous, stipules free, flowers racemed, 

 peduncles much shorter than the leaves, pods suberect exserted elongate 

 many-seeded. 



Fields and copses, from Ross southd. ; fl. June-Sept. — Rootstock short, stout. 

 Stents 2-3 ft., prostrate, stout, zigzag. Leaves 4-6 in. ; leaflets f-l| in., 

 broadly oblong, obtuse, glabrous above, slightly hairy beneath ; stipules 1 

 in., ovate-lanceolate, acute, lower auricled. Racemes 1-2 in., compact, 

 ovoid ; bracts subulate, longer than the short pedicels. Flowers \ in., 

 creamy white. Calyx campanulate, half as long as the corolla. Pod 1-1| 

 in., linear, terete, curved, acuminate, 2-celled, pale. Seeds many, pale, 

 compressed. — Distrib. Europe, N. Asia. 



2. A. hypoglot'tis, L. ; hairy, stipules connate, flowers spiked, ped- 

 uncles usually much longer than the leaves, pods very short ovoid sub- 

 erect included 2-seeded, A. danicus, Retz. 



Gravelly and chalky soil, from Sutherland to Essex and Wilts ; Isle of Aran, 

 Ireland ; fl. June— July.— Clothed with soft white hairs mixed with black 

 above. Rootstock very slender, straggling, branching. Steins 2-6 in., slender, 

 ascending. Leaves 2-4 in., leaflets £-§ in., many, oblong or linear-oblong, 

 obtuse. Spikes 1 in., ovoid ; peduncle stout. Flowers |-| in., blue-purple. 

 Calyx with black hairs, longer than the bracts. Pod shortly stipitate. — 

 Distrib. Arctic and Alpine Europe, N. Asia, N. America. 



3. A. alpi'nus, L. ; decumbent, hairy, stipules free, flowers shortly 

 racemose or subcapitate, peduncles rather shorter than the leaves, pods 

 oblong pendulous exserted few-seeded. Phaca astragali'na, DC. 

 Aberdeen and Forfar, very rare; alt. 2,400-2,600 ft.; fl. July.— Perennial, 



more slender than A. hypoglottis ; leaves very similar ; peduncles shorter; 

 flowers horizontal or drooping, pale blue tipped with purple ; calyx shorter. 

 Pod § in., 1-celled, stalk longer than the calyx, hence wholly exserted, 

 covered with black hairs. — Distrib. Arctic and Alpine Europe, N. Asia, 

 \V. Tibet, N. America. 



12. OXY'TROPIS, DC. 



Herbs or shrubs. Leaves pinnate with a terminal leaflet ; leaflets quite 

 entire ; stipules free or adnate to the petiole. Flowers in axillary spikes 

 or racemes, purple white or pale yellow ; bracts membranous. Calyx 

 tubular, teeth subequal. Petals with long claws ; keel erect, with a 

 straight or recurved tooth at the tip. Upper filament free ; anthers uni- 

 form. Ovary sessile or stalked ; style beardless, stigma minute ; ovules 

 many. Pod longitudinally more or less 2-celled by the inflexion of the 

 suture next the standard. — Distrib. Europe, temp, and cold Asia, and 

 N. America ; species 100. — Etym. o£us and rp6-nis, from the sharp keel. 



