172 THE PEATLOWEB TKIBE. 



Hated, with 5 small teetli. Stamens all united in an entire sheath. Pod 

 enclosed in the calyx, with few seeds. 



A genus of few species, chiefly fi-om the Mediterranean region, allied to 

 Lotus in inflorescence, to Genista in its stamens, and easily distinguished by 

 the calyx. 



1. Common Anthyllis. Anthyllis vulneraria, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 104. Kidney Vetch, or Lady's-fingers.) 



Stock perennial, and often tufted, with spreading or ascending stems, 

 from a few inches to a foot long ; the whole plant more or less clothed with 

 short, appressed, silky liau-s. Leaflets narrow and entire, 6 lines long or 

 more ; m the upper leaves often numerous and not very unequal ; in the 

 lower leaves the terminal leaflet is usually oblong, an inch long or more, 

 with very few, much smaller ones, along the stalk ; or in the first leaves the 

 terminal one stands alone. Flower-heads usually in pairs at the ends of the 

 branches, each one surrounded by a digitate, leafy bract ; the flowers nume- 

 rous and closely sessile. Calyx hairy, much inflated, and contracted at 

 the mouth. CoroUa small, varying from a pale or bright yeUow to a 

 deep red. 



In dry pastures and rocky stony places, chiefly in hilly districts, tlirough- 

 out Em-ope and western Asia, from the Mediterranean to the Arctic Circle. 

 Ranges generally over Britain, although here and there considerable districts 

 may be without it. Fl. summer, commencing early. 



■ XI. ASTRAGAL. ASTEAGALUS. 



Herbs, with pinnate leaves, and pink, purple, bluish, pale yellow, or white 

 flowers, in axiUai-y racemes or spikes, without leafy bracts. Stipules entire 

 at the base (not sagittate). Calyx with 5 teeth. Petals usually narrow. 

 Keel obtuse. Stamens diadelphous, the upper one entirely free. Pod 

 cylindrical or inflated, usually more or less divided lengthwise by a com- 

 plete or partial partition proceeding from the side next the keel. Seeds 

 several. 



A very numerous genus, distributed all over Europe, central and northern 

 Asia, North America, and down the Andes of South America ; penetrating 

 far into the Arctic regions, ascending to high alpine summits, and abundant 

 in the hot rocky districts of the Mediterranean region. 



Steins 2 or 3 feet long, with large leaflets, and dingy yellow flowers . . 3. Sweet A. 

 Low plants, with small leaflets, and bluish-purjjle flowers. 



Flowers 8 or 9 lines long. Pods erect, not tw;ee the length of the 



calji 1. Purple A. 



Flowers not 6 lines long. Pods pendulous, 3 or 4 times the length of 



the calyx 2. Alpme A. 



1. Piirple Astragal. Astragalus hjrpoglottis, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 274.) 

 A low, slightly hairy perennial, the stem prostrate, branching at the base, 

 2 to 5 or 6 inches long. Stipviles free from the leafstalk, but more or less 

 united together on the opposite side of the stem. Leaflets usually in 10 to 

 12 pairs, with an odd one, 2 or 3 lines long. Flowers of a bluish purple, 

 in short spikes, on long axillary peduncles. Calyx sessile, erect, about 3 

 lines long, more or less downy with short black hairs. Standard near 3 



