LEGUMINOS^ 121 



Anthyllis L. 



Rather dwarf herbs, with pinnate leaves and yellow, red, or 

 purple flowers, in crowded heads, with a deeply divided bract close 

 underneath. Stipules small or o. Calyx inflated, with 5 small 

 teeth. Stamens united in an entire sheath. Pod enclosed in the 

 calyx. 



A small genus, chiefly from the Mediterranean region. 



Anthyllis montana L. 



Stem woody at the base, ascending, 6-12 inches high, tufted, 

 covered with silky wool like the whole plant. Leaflets in 8-20 pairs, 

 all the same size. Bracts shorter than the head of flowers, which is 

 about I inch in diameter. Flowers 15-16 mm. long, rose-coloured. 

 Calyx with plumose, unequal teeth, suddenly spreading. Occasion- 

 ally the flowers are a deep carmine. 



Rocks and hot stony places on limestone from 4500-6500 feet. 

 May to July. 



Distribution. — Jura, Central and Western Alps, Cevennes. 

 Pyrenees, Algeria. Very rare in Switzerland (Saldve). 



In cultivation it is best planted between blocks of limestone in a 

 weU-drained, sunny position. 



Anthyllis Vulneraria L. Lady's-fingers. (Plate XVII.) 



Radical leaves with 1-4 leaflets ; stem-leaves with 4-10 small 

 leaflets, the terminal one being large. Calyx greatly swoUen, with 

 oblique mouth and short triangular teeth. Petals golden yellow or, 

 in the Alps, nearly white (var. alpestris Heg.) [Plate XVII.], or 

 partly blood- red (var. rubri flora Koch =A. Dillenii Schultz). A 

 polymorphic species. 



Pastures and dry hillsides, sometimes very abundant and covering 

 large areas. May to August. 



Distribution. — Europe, Western Asia, N. Africa. In Norway it 

 almost reaches the birch limit. 



Lotus L. 



Leaves pinnately or palmately 4-5 fid. Stipules minute or 

 0. Calyx not inflated, 2-lipped or with 5 nearly equal teeth. 

 Flowers usually yellow, _in capitate or umbellate, axillary cymes. 

 Legume septate between the seeds. About 50 species widely 

 distributed over the world. 



Lotus corniculatus L. Bird's-foot Trefoil. 



A small glabrous plant, 3-8 inches high, tufted, but very variable 

 in habit. Leaves very shortly petioled. Flowers very shortly 

 pedicelled, bright yellow, often streaked with crimson and turning 

 green when dry, 5-10 flowers in a decumbent umbel or head about an 



