22 ENGLISH BOTANY, 



in districts where Lucerne is cultivated, but having no claims to 

 be considered indigenous. 



[England, Scotland.] Perennial. Summer and Autumn. 



Stems stout, erect, 1 to 2 feet high, hollow, cylindrical with 

 raised lines. Leaves stalked ; leaflets elliptical-oblanceolate, ^ to 

 1^ inch long, denticulate towards the apex, the central one 

 inserted on the common petiole above the others. Stipules lanceo- 

 late-subulate. Flowers ^ inch long, bluish-purple, more rarely 

 yellowish, in axillary stalked racemose heads, which are from f to 

 1^ inch long. Pedicels shorter than the calyx. Calyx with the 

 teeth triangular-subulate, nearly equal, longer than the tube. 

 Standard longer than the calyx-teeth and exceeding the wings and 

 keel. Mature pod rupturing the calyx, olive-brown, forming a 

 helix of about ^ inch in diameter, and generally making about 2|- 

 turns, pubescent with adpressed hairs and faintly reticulated. 

 Seeds yellowish-brown, rectangular-oval, smooth, dim, with a deep 

 depression at the hilum. Plant bright-green, with scattered ad- 

 pressed pubescence. 



The yellowish-flowered variety is considered by Koch and Fries 

 to be the M. media of Persoon, while Godron and Boreau refer 

 that name to M. sylvestris (Fries). 



Common, Lucerne. 



French, Lvsenie. German, Luzerne. 



As a fodder plant the Lucerne has been cultivated for ages in the South of Europe. 

 It was brought into notice in England by Ilarte, in 1757, and since that time baa 

 been commonly cultivated in light lands. It grows very rapidly, and may be cut in 

 favourable seasons twice or three times. On laud adapted to it it will yield good crops 

 for six or seven years, or longer. At one time Lucerne was a very favourite plant 

 with the farmer, and it is said that cattle thrive better on it than on any other kind 

 of food. One writer estimates that three horses might be kept on ^ of an acre. 

 Various circumstances, however, have interfered with the regular culture of this crop 

 in our own conntry, and its value as an agricultural plant has been much discussed. 

 According to Sir Humphry Davy, its nutritive properties are, when compared with 

 red clover and saintfoin, as 23 to 39. Pigs, sheep, and cows eat it gi-eedily ; but it 

 must be given only in moderate quantities, or disease is likely to ensue. 



SPECIES II.— MEDICAGO FALCATA. Linn. 

 Plates CCCXXXV. CCCXXXVI. 



E/Ootstock woody. Stems solid, decumbent at the base, diiTusely 

 branched. Branches spreading. Flowers numerous, in short 

 racemes or corymbose-racemose heads. Pods downy, falcate, semi- 

 circular, or twisted into a ring. 



