LEGUMINIFER^. 47 



It varies much in the quantity of pubosconco, the number and dii-ec- 

 tion of the stems, the degree of denticulation in the leaUets, and the 

 length of the hairs in tlic ealyx, and has consequently been divided 

 by Mons. Jordan into a numl)er of species, several of which to 

 me appear scarcely even deserving of tlie name of varieties; l)ut 

 his T. gracile, T. rubelkim, and possibly T. arenivagum, of which 

 I have seen no British specimens, may be distinct as sub-species. 



Ilare's-foot Trefoil. 



French, Trifle des C/untips. German, Acker Klee. 



SPECIES IX.— TRIFOLIUM BOCCONI. San. 

 Plate CCCLV. 



Rootstock none. Stems several or solitary, erect or ascend- 

 ing, generally simple. Leaflets obovate or oblanceolate, strongly 

 denticulate in the upper half, and having the veins very promi- 

 nent ; the lateral veins straight. Stipules adnate for about half 

 their length, with the free portion triangular-subulate ; the upper 

 ones, which embrace the flower-heads, only slightly dilated. Flower- 

 heads terminal and axillary, sessile, the terminal ones mostly in 

 pairs, ovoid or sub-globose, at length cylindrical-ovoid. Calyx-tube 

 oblong, strongly 10-nerved, slightly swollen in fruit, with an indis- 

 tinct callous ring. Teeth triangular, spinescent, with a strong 

 nerve ; the four upper ones nearly equal, three-fourths the length 

 of the tube ; the lower one equalling it. Plant more or less hairy. 



On the tops of (turf ?) walls and in dry places. Very rare. At 

 Cadgwith and Landewednack near the Lizard, Cornwall. 



England. Annual. Summer. 



Stems in the British specimens which have passed through my 

 hands only 1 inch high, but in Continental specimens sometimes 

 6 or 8 inches long. Leaves shortly stalked, the leaflets 5- to i inch 

 long, with the nerves very prominent beneath. Heads y to | inch 

 long, densely flowered. Flowers \ inch long, white tinged with 

 pink. Corolla very slightly exceeding the calyx. Pod small, en- 

 closed in the nearly unaltered calyx. Seed sub-globular, yellow, 

 smooth. Plant rather rigid, dull-green, often with a reddish tinge. 



Of this species I have seen very few British specimens, and no 

 living examples. It cannot be confounded with any of our species 

 except the following. 



JBoccone's Trefoil. 



French, Tnfle de Bocame, 



