43 WAYSIDE AND WOODLAND BLOSSOMS. 



Bird's-foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus). 



From June to October our commons, pastures, downs and 

 railway banks are bright with the flowers of Bird's-foot Trefoil, 

 or as it is termed in some districts, Lady's Slipper, a name 

 which properly belongs to the rare orchis Cypripedium. 



The plant belongs to the same Natural Order (Leguminosa) 

 as the Broom (see page 7 ante), and its flowers are of similar 

 construction, though much smaller. There is a short, woody, 

 perennial rootstock, from which originate several trailing 

 branches, which are themselves much branched. The leaves 

 are not trefoils, as the name would lead us to suppose, for the 

 apparent stipules at the base of the leaf-stalk are in this genus 

 leaflets. The flowers, which are in spreading heads of from 

 three to ten flowers, are of a pretty yellow, tinted with red. 

 They are succeeded by little cylindrical pods about an inch in 

 length, which, when three or four are in a cluster, present the 

 appearance of a bird's claws. The plant is a valued ingredient 

 in the formation of pastures and meadows. The name was 

 given to the genus because this was believed to be one of the 

 plants to which the ancient Greeks applied the name Lotus. 



There are three other species natives of Britain : 



I. Greater Bird's-foot Trefoil (L. uliginosus). More or less erect in habit. The 

 calyx-teeth spreading in bud (in L. corniculatus they are erect in bud). Moist 

 meadows and swampy places. July and August. 



II. Hairy Bird's-foot Trefoil (L. hispidus). Annual, trailing stems, long and 

 slender, covered with lax hairs. Pods twice the length of calyx. Banks near the 

 sea from Hants to Cornwall. July and August. Rare. 



III. Slender Bird's-foot Trefoil (L. angustissimus). Similar to L. hispidus, but 

 stems shorter and more slender. Pod four times the length of calyx. Similar 

 situations as last, but extending as far eastward as Kent. Very rare. 



Common Yetch (Viria sativa). Plate 44. 



The Vetches are Leguminous plants, and the structure of 

 the flowers is therefore very similar to those just described. 

 The Vetches are chiefly climbing plants, and have pinnate 



