THE LADY^S-FINGERS 105 



long, stout root-stock. Above ground the leaves 

 radiate out in all directions from a very short stem. 

 The flowers, clustered in little umbrella-like heads 

 (umbels), are mounted on long stalks which extend 

 even further than the leaves. The whole spreading 

 habit adds greatly to the conspicuousness of the plant, 

 and its advertisement to the insect world is thereby 

 increased. As we shall see, when we come to 

 describe the carpet plants of the Alps, such as Dryas 

 octopetala, this spreading habit is characteristic of 

 many Alpines, and the fact that many flowers are 

 borne on the same plant is explained by the neces- 

 sity for a large seed production, since the chances 

 of the survival of an individual seed are smaller than 

 in the plains, owing to the severer physical conditions 

 which it has to combat. 



The Bird's-foot Trefoil, as we should perhaps 

 expect, when we consider its indifference to habitat, is 

 a plant with many varieties. The flowers may vary in 

 colour, even on the same plant ; while the corolla is 

 usually yellow, in some cases it may be reddish or 

 even wholly red. 



The Lady's-fingers. 



The other British member of the Leguminosoe, 

 the Lady's-fingers, or Kidney Vetch {Anthyllls vuhier- 

 aria, Linn.), is almost as abundant as the Bird's-foot 

 Trefoil, with which it is often associated. The flowers 

 are also borne in umbels, though much larger than in 

 the previous plant. They are easily recognised by 



