964 ASTRAGALUS, [CLASS XVII. ORDER III. 
terminal heads of numerous crowded flowers, in a globose form, the 
heads mostly in pairs. Bracteas leafy, cut in a digitate manner. 
Calyx persistent, downy, pale, thin, membranous, inflated, the teeth 
five, ovate lanceolate, mostly a deep purplish colour. Corolla longer 
than the calyx, of five petals, all with linear claws, keel narrow, 
slightly cohering at the tips, wings obliquely ovate, standard with 
reflexed margins. Legume small, compressed, semi-orbicular, turgid, 
single seeded. 
Habitat.—Dry pastures and road sides; frequent. 
Perennial ; flowering from June to August. 
Varieties having the flowers crimson, pink, white, or cream 
coloured, are occasionally found; but they are not otherwise distin- 
guished from the common state of the plant. The natural habit of 
this plant would seem to point it out as one of considerable value in- 
dry stony or gravelly soils, where it flourishes well and affords good 
pasturage for sheep and cattle. It forms no inconsiderable part of 
the dry alpine pastures of Switzerland and the Pyrenees. Sheep and 
cattle are fond of it, and it is said to produce a large quantity of 
milk in these animals. By the old authors this plant seems to have 
been used as a vulnerary, hence its name; and it is probable that the 
soft downy leaves bound upon cuts and bruises would, by restrain- 
ing the flow of blood, greatly assist the powers of nature in her 
healing processes. It has not now, however, so great a reputation as 
it formerly had. The A. tetraphylla, found in Italy and other parts 
of the South of Europe, is a very pretty little plant, and the beautiful 
white silvery looking species, the A. Barba-jovis, found in the same 
districts, is well worthy its place in the flower border. 
GENUS IX. ASTRAG'ALUS.—Linn. MWilk-vetch. 
Nat. Ord. Paprniona'cEx®. LINN. 
Gen. Cuan. Calyx five toothed. Corolla with an obtuse keel. 
Stamens diadelphous. Legume more or less perfectly two celled, 
formed by the lower suture being turned inwards—Named 
from wotexyadros, one of the bones of the foot; but why the 
term is applied to this genus of plants does not appear. 
1. A. glycyphyl'los, Linn. (Fig. 1115.) Sweet Milk-vetch, Wild 
Liquorice. Stem prostrate, smooth; stipules ovate, acuminate ; 
leaves longer than the peduncles; leaflets ovate ; legumes obtusely 
triangular, linear, curved, smooth, erect, and crowded. 
English Botany, t. 203.—English Flora, vol. iii. p 294—Hooker, 
British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 272.—Lindley, Synopsis, p. 78. 
Root long deep fibres. Stems several, slender, from two to three 
feet long, angular, nearly smooth, branched, prostrate, leafy. Leaves 
_ alternate, the common footstalk long, tapering, channeled, leaflets in 
