23. LEGUMINOS.E. 305 



pared to unravel. I have never been able to satisfy myself 

 as to the existence of more than two species ; each of 

 them varying into a small form (minus or microphyllum) . 

 Still, there is very high authority in support of three dis- 

 tinct species. I would refer, for instance, to remarks by 

 the Rev. G. E. Smith, in his Catalogue of the Plants of 

 South Kent ; as also to those of Mr. Wilson, in the Phy- 

 tologist, i. 293. 



283. Lotus corniculatus, Linn. 



Area, general. 



South limit in Cornwall, Isle of Wight, Kent. 

 t^^f North limit in Orkney, Sutherland, Hebrides. 



Estimate of provinces 18. Estimate of counties 81. 



Latitude 50 — 60. British type of distribution. 



A. A. regions. Inferagrarian — Midarctic zones. 



Descends to the coast level, in the Peninsula. 



Ascends to 950 yards, in the East Highlands. 



Range of mean annual temperature 52 — 38. 



Native. Pascual. A most abundant species, and yet 

 not perfectly general, even in a county estimate ; for it 

 would seem to be wholly absent from Shetland. Is this 

 absence only an omission in Mr. Edmondston's Flora, or 

 is it real ? Seen in many spots on the hills up to 700 or 

 800 yards ; rarely higher. 



'u. />'^''//-/^/^ 283,b. Lotus tenuis, W. et K. 



Area 1 2 3 4 5 * 7 8 9 10 11 12 * 14 15. 

 South limit in Cornwall, Isle of Wight, Kent. 

 North limit in Forfarshire and Cumberland. 

 Estimate of provinces 15. Estimate of counties 60. 



2 R 



