II LEGUMIN08.E 165 



T. resupinatum. — This is a hive bee iiower. It has 

 a strong scent of honey during the day, but is said to 

 become scentless in the evening, when the bees leave off 

 working. The calyx is glabrous, or hairy on the upper 

 side only, which after flowering becomes much inflated, 

 arched, membranous, and veined. The leaves, however, 

 are the most interesting feature of the species, and are 

 very peculiar. The apical halves of the lateral leaflets 

 are covered with bloom, which is wholly absent on the 

 other side, so that if put in water one side of the leaflet 

 is wetted, while the other remains dry.^ 



T. hybridum. — The flowers are first white and then 

 red. After flowering they turn down so as to make 

 room for younger ones. The stem is hollow and erect. 



Astragalus 



Of this, which is one of the largest genera of flower- 

 ing plants, and widely distributed in temperate and 

 cold regions, we have three species : A. alpinus has 

 the flowers in a raceme and bluish purple, the other 

 two in a head or short spike ; A. hypoglottis, purple ; 

 A. glycyphyllos, dingy yellow. The flowers contain 

 honey. 



OXYTROPIS 



Oxytropis is also a large genus widely distributed in 

 the cooler parts of the northern hemisphere. We have 

 two species, both Scotch alpines : 0. cainpestris, con- 

 fined to the Clova Mountains, with yellow flowers tinged 

 with purple ; and 0. uralensis, with pale purple flowers. 



Orxithopits 



0. perpusillus (Bird's-foot) ; from the resemblance of 

 the fruits to birds' claws. Neither H. Miiller nor Knuth 

 could find any honey in this species. 



^ Darwin, More Letters. 



