PAPILIOKACE^. 169 



peduncle, and is usually surroiuided by short thict fibres, each with 5 

 spreading, subulate teeth, showing that they are, in fact, undeveloped 

 calyxes. 



In dry, gravelly or sandy pastures, common in southern Europe to the 

 Caucasus, and up western France to the Channel. Abundant in many 

 parts of southern and central England, but not in the north, nor in Scot- 

 land, nor as yet recorded from Ireland. PL spring and early summer. 



16. StraTvberry Clover. Trifolium fragiferum, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 1050, not good.) 



The perennial stock, creeping stems, foUage, and peduncles are those of 

 the white C, but the flowers are closely sessile in the head, surrounded by 

 an involucre of lobed bracts as long as the calyx-tubes, and the calyx, after 

 flowering, becomes much inflated, thin, and reticulate, with short fine teeth ; 

 the flower-head is thin, very compact, half an inch or more in diameter, and 

 often assumes a pink tint, so as to have been compared to a strawberry. 

 Corolla small and red. 



In rather dry meadows and pastures, common in Europe and central and 

 Russian Asia, penetrating far into Scandinavia. Frequent in England, Ire- 

 land, and southern Scotland. Fl. summer and autumn. 



17. WTiite Clover. Trifolium. repens, Linn. 



(Eng. Bot. t. 1769. Dutch Clover.) 



A glabrous or slightly hairy perennial, the stems creeping and rooting at 

 the nodes. Stipules small. Leaflets obovate, distinctly tootlied, and usually 

 bearing a mark in the centre, which has been compared to a horseshoe, the 

 leafstalks often very long. Peduncles axUlary, long, and erect, bearing a 

 globular head, or rather umbel, of white flowers, often tinged with pink ; the 

 pedicels, after flowering, more or less elongated and recm-ved. Calyx-teeth 

 scarcely so long as the tube, the lowest one usually the shortest. Pod con- 

 taining 2 to 4 seeds, usually protruding from the calyx, but enclosed in the 

 withered corolla. 



In meadows and pastures, throughout Europe and Russian Asia, from 

 the Mediterranean to the Arctic Circle, and having been long cultivated, and 

 spreading rapidly in genial soils, it is now common in most temperate re- 

 gions of the globe. Abundant in Britain. In Ireland believed to be of 

 comparatively recent introduction, although it is now taken as the national 

 emblem in substitution of the Wood-sorrel Oxalis, which was the original 

 shamrock. Fl. the whole season. 



18. Hop Clover. Trifolium agrarium, Linn. 



{T. proctimbens, Eng. Bot. t. 945.) 



A slender annual, much branched at the base, glabrous or slightly downy, 

 procumbent or nearly erect, 6 inches to a foot long, or rather more. Sti- 

 pules broad and pointed. Leaflets obovate or obcordate, the central one at 

 some distance from the others. Flower-heads loosely globular or ovoid, on 

 rather long axillaiy peduncles, containing 30 to 50 small yellow flowers on 

 very short pedicels ; in fading, the flowers become reflexed, and turn pale 

 brown, with a broadly obovate standard, distinctly marked with longitudinal 

 furrows, and completely concealing the small, 1-seeded pod. 



In rather dry pastures and meadows, on the borders of fields, etc., 

 throughout Europe and western Asia, except the extreme north. Abundant 



Q 



