254 NATURAL HISTORY. 



L. , or Red Everlasting Clover, has a stem from one to 

 two feet high, branched, smoothish. Leaflets feathered, 

 flowers beautiful red color, grow in clusters, cone-shaped, 

 and, like the foregoing, yields a profitable crop ; thrives 

 well even on poor lands, and does not require frequent 

 renewing, but lasts for many years. Is much cultivated 

 in Europe. All of the clover genera, when dried into 

 hay, are highly valuable as furnishing excellent fodder ; 

 there is, however, one great drawback in suffering cattle 

 to graze among fresh clover, as, when eaten to excess, it 

 swells in the stomach, and kills the animal. If. 



Tremulous Shield Clover Sensitive Joint Vetch 

 (Hedysarum gyrans), grows in the East Indies ; the 

 stalk, three to four inches high, is smooth, and about as 

 thick as one's little finger ; large end leaves two to four 

 inches long ; side leaves smaller, half an inch long ; 

 flowers, violet, verging into reddish-purple; stand in 

 panicles; the seed is kidney-shaped and black. This 

 plant has the singular property of always being in 

 motion. Its movements, however, are not excited by 

 the contact of external bodies, but solely by the influence 

 of the sun's rays. When the sun shines the leaves move 

 briskly in every direction ; their general motion is, how- 

 ever, upward and downward, but they not unfrequently 

 turn almost round, and then their footstalks are evidently 

 twisted. These motions go on incessantly as long as the 

 heat of the sun continues ; but they cease during the 

 night or when the weather is cloudy or cold. It does 

 not live long. When brought to Europe, as it is occa- 

 sionally, it must be nursed carefully in a conserva- 

 tory. O- 



Broom Grass (Spartium scoparium) grows into a 

 bush from five to six feet high ; branches green and 



