SPECIES AND VARIETIES. 221 



slender, much branched at the base, glabrous or slightly 

 downy, procumbent or nearly erect, J-l foot long; stipules 

 broad, pointed ; leaflets obovate or obcordate ; flower-heads 

 loosely globular or ovoid, on rather long axillary peduncles, 

 containing 30-50 small yellow flowers, which in fading be- 

 come reflexed, and turn pale brown. Dry pastures, borders 

 of fields, etc. Fl. June to August. 



T. procumbens (minus of authors) : annual ; resembling 

 the last, but more slender and procumbent ; flowers smaller, 

 12-20 in a head, paler yellow. Dry pastures. Fl. June, 

 July. 



T. filiforme is a still more slender plant, with the stems de- 

 cumbent, ascending, or erect, seldom six inches long; the 

 leaflets narrower ; and the flowers 2-3, rarely 5-6, in each 

 head. Sandy or stony pastures in south-eastern England, but 

 rare. [See also p. 51.] 



(75) Lotus. BIRDS'-FOOT TREFOIL. 



L. corniculatus : stems decumbent or ascending, -2 feet 

 long ; leaflets obovate, pointed, the stipules ovate ; peduncles 

 much longer than the leaves; umbels of 5-10 bright yellow 

 flowers, the standard often red on the outside ; calyx-teeth 

 about the length of the tube, the two upper ones converging. 

 Meadows and pastures. Fl. June to September. A very 

 variable plant. Mr. Bentham places the following as a mere 

 variety of it : 



L. major : stem 1-3 feet high, ascending or nearly erect, 

 glabrous or slightly hairy, luxuriant in all its parts ; leaflets 

 obovate ; stipules roundish-ovate ; flowers 6-12 in the umbel 

 calyx-teeth spreading like a star, the upper ones diverging. 

 Moist meadows and bushy places. Fl. July, August. 



