Trifolium.] XXV. PAPILIONACE^l. 115 



abundant as T. procumbent, excepting perhaps in the north. PL the 

 whole season. Starved specimens of this species are much like the more 

 luxuriant ones of T. J&iforme, and chiefly distinguished by the shortness 

 of the pedicels. 



21 . T. filiforxne, Linn. (fig. 265). Slender a Still more slender than 

 T. minus; the stems decumbent, ascending, or erect, seldom 6 inches 

 long. Leaflets usually narrower than in the last two species, the 

 central one inserted immediately between the two others, excepting in 

 the upper leaves of very luxuriant specimens. Flowers 2 or 3 in each 

 head, or very seldom as many as 5 or 6, smaller than in T. minus ; the 

 pedicels usually about as long as the calyx. 



In sandy or stony pastures and waste places, chiefly near the sea, in 

 southern Europe ; very common round the Mediterranean, and extend- 

 ing up western France. Rare in Britain, but found as far north as 

 Roxburghshire, and doubtfully wild further north. PL early summer. 



IX. LOTUS. LOTUS. 



Herbs, with pinnate leaves of 5 (rarely 4) leaflets of which 2 (or 1). 

 close to the stem, take the place and appearance of stipules. Peduncles 

 axillary, bearing 1 or several yellow or reddish flowers in an umbel, 

 with a leaf of 3 leaflets close under it. Calyx 5-toothed. Keel pointed. 

 Stamens diadelphous, the upper one free from the base, and 5 of the 

 filaments flattened at the top. Pod cylindrical, with several seeds. 



A well-marked genus, not very numerous in species, chiefly abundant 

 in southern Europe and northern Africa, but widely spread over the 

 temperate regions of the Old World and Australia. 



Perennial. Flowers usually 5 or more in the umbel . . . 1. L. comiculatus. 

 Annual. Flowers small, seldom above 2 in the umbel . . 2. L. angustissirmis 



1. L. corniculatus, Linn. (fig. 266). Birds-foot Trefoil. Stock 

 perennial, with a long taproot. Stems decumbent or ascending, from 

 a few inches to near 2 feet long. Leaflets usually ovate or obovate, 

 and pointed, but sometimes narrow ; those which take the place of 

 stipules broader than the others. Peduncles much longer than the 

 leaves. Umbels of from 5 or 6 to twice that number of bright yellow 

 flowers ; the standard often red on the outside. Calyx-teeth about the 

 length of the tube. Pod usually about an inch long. Seeds globular, 

 separated by a pithy substance, which nearly fills the pod. 



In meadows and pastures, whether wet or dry, open or shaded, widely 

 spread over Europe, Russian and central Asia, the East Indian 

 Peninsula, and Australia, but not reaching the Arctic Circle. Abundant 

 all over Britain. Fl. the whole summer. It is a very variable species, 

 accommodating itself to very different stations and climates ; and some 

 of the races appear so permanent in certain localities as to have been 

 generally admitted as species, but in others they run so much into 

 one another as to be absolutely undistinguishable. The most distinct 

 British forms are 



a. L. uliffinosus, Schk. Tall, ascending or nearly erect, glabrous or 

 Blightly hairy, and luxuriant in all its parts, with 6 to 8 flowers in the 

 umbel. Calyx-teeth usually, but not always, finer and more spreading 

 than in the smaller forms. In moist meadows, along ditches, under 

 hedges, and in rich, bushy places. L. major, Sm. ; L. ptiosut, Beeke. 



