170 THE PEAPLOWEH TEIBE. 



in Britain generally, but becoming rare in northern Scotland. Fl. the whole 

 fieason, 



19. Iiesser Clover. Trifolium procuxnbens, Linn. 

 {T. minus, Eng. Bot. t. 1256.) 



Very near the Sop C, but more slender and procumbent ; the flowers 

 smaller, usually 12 to 20 in a head, and of a paler colour ; the standard not 

 BO broad, more folded, and only faintly striated. The central leaflet of each 

 leaf is usually at some distance from the others, as in the Hop C, excepting 

 sometimes in the lower leaves. Pedicels of the flowers much shorter than 

 the tube of the calyx. 



As common as tbe Hop C. over the greater part of Europe, but does not 

 appear to extend so far to the east or to the north. In Britain, also as 

 abundant as the Hop C, excepting, perhaps, in the north. Fl. the whole 

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

 riant ones of the slender C, and cliiefly distinguished by the shortness of 

 the pedicels. 



20. Slender Clover. Trifolium filifonue, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 1257.) 



Still more slender than the lesser C. ; the stems decumbent, ascending, or 

 erect, seldom 6 inches long. Leaflets usually nan-ower than in the two 

 last species, the central one inserted immediately between the two others, 

 excepting in the upper leaves of very luxui'iant specimens. Flowers 2 or 3 

 in each head, or very seldom as many as 5 or 6, smaller than in the lesser C.j 

 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 extending 

 up western France to the Channel. Kare in Britain, and probably con- 

 fined to south-eastern England, starved states of the lesser C. having been 

 frequently mistaken for it. I have seen specimens of the true, plant from 

 Grravesend, in Kent. Fl. 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 one or several yellow or reddish flowers in an umbel, with a leaf of 

 3 leaflets close under it. Calyx 5-toothed. Keel pointed. Stamens dia- 

 delphous, the upper one free from the base, and 5 of the filaments flattened 

 at the top. Pod cylindrical, with several seeds. 



A weU-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 A.ustralia. 



Perennial. Flowers usually 5 or more in the umbel 1. Common J, 



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



1. Common Zjotus. Iiotus comiculatus, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 2090. Bird's-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, 



