1 62 DIADELPHI A DEC ANDRI A. 



round heads, bluish-purple ; legumes ovate, deeply channelled 

 along the back, compressed, hairy, hooked at the point ; leaflets 

 blunt. Purple Milk-vetch. 



Hab. Links of Holy Island, Winch. Spittal Links, and 

 the links beyond Scrammerston, Thomp. Sea banks 

 below Redheugh, Berwickshire. June, July. ?/ 



224. TRIFOLIUM. 



* Flowers in clusters. Seeds 1 or more. 



1. T. cfficinale, stem erect ; leaflets obovate, oblong, toothed ; 

 stipulas awl-shaped ; flowers unilateral, drooping ; legume pro- 

 minent, acute, transversely wrinkled, hairy, with 2 seeds. Com- 

 mon Melilot. 



Hab. Bushy places and way sides. a Old limestone 

 quarry at Saterpath Haven," Thomp. Sea-banks in se- 

 veral places. New-water Haugh Wood. July, 



The flowers are commonly yellow, but in this neighbour- 

 hood, more frequently of a greenish-white colour, and 

 smaller than usual. The herb is very palatable food to 

 all sorts of cattle, and has a grateful odour when cut 

 down and dried. Its seed is of all others the most per- 

 nicious in wheat, a few communicating a very strong 

 smell to the flour.- SINCLAIR. It is fortunately rare 

 in this district. 



* * Flowers capitate. Seeds several. 



2. T. repens, stems creeping, solid ; flowers somewhat stalked, 

 white, in a globose head ; legume within the calyx. 4-seeded. 

 White Clover, or Shamrock. 



Hab. Meadows and pastures. May Sept. 11 



It is a curious fact, and one not easily explained, that when- 

 ever a moor or barren heath is manured or turned up with 

 the spade or plough, instead of producing next season its 

 former coarse grass or heath, the white clover uniformly 

 appears in their place, although previously it was at least 

 not visible to the eye. 



In dry soils the flowers sometimes become leafy. This we 

 have observed on Holy Island. The flowers are support- 

 ed on rather long stalks ; the calyx has 6 leaflike cut seg- 

 ments, while the style is dilated into a large ovate leaf, 



