122 SUB-ALPINE PLANTS 



inch across, on long peduncles ; 2 upper calyx teeth triangular. 

 Pods about an inch long. 



Pastures from the plains to 9000 feet (var. alpinus Schl.) in the 

 Alps. May to July. 



Distribution. — Europe, to the Arctic regions, N. Africa, N. and W. 

 Asia, India. 



Astragalus L. 



Herbs with pinnate leaves and flowers in axillary cymes or 

 spikes, without leafy bracts. Stipules entire at the base. Calyx 

 with 5 teeth. Petals usually narrow. Keel obtuse. Stamens 

 diadelphous. Pod cylindrical or inflated, usually divided length- 

 wise by a complete or partial partition proceeding from the side of 

 the keel. 



One of the largest genera known (about 900 species), distributed 

 all over Europe, Central and Northern Asia, N. America, and down 

 the Andes of S. America. Some penetrate far into the Arctic. 



Astragalus alpinus L. {Phaca asiragalina DC). 



Stem procumbent, then ascending, 3-8 inches high, slender, 

 covered Uke the leaves with an adpressed down. Leaves pinnate, 

 with 8-12 pairs of lanceolate or oval leaflets. Spike compact, corym- 

 bose ; flowers shortly stalked. Standard blue. Wings white. Keel 

 violet at apex, nearly as long as standard. Legume pendent, 

 elongated, covered with rough, black hairs. Fruit-stalk longer than 

 calyx. 



Stony or grassy places and pastures in the Alps, especially on 

 the primary formations, 5000-8200 feet. July, August. 



Distribution. — Alps and Pyrenees. High mountains of Europe as 

 far north as Lapland. In Norway it extends above the birch. 

 Very rare in Britain. 



Astragalus glycyphyllus L. 



Glabrous, bright green in colour, with strong zigzag stems, 

 spreading several feet along the ground. Stipules free. Leaflets 

 about a dozen, ovate, i-i J inches long, on a common leaf-stalk 6 or 7 

 inches long. Flowers dingy yellow, in racemes rather shorter than 

 the leaves. Pods erect, curved, glabrous, i^ inches long, divided into 

 2 cells by a thin double partition. 



Open woods, grassy and uncultivated places. June to August. 



Distribution. — Europe, especially Central ; Western Asia. British. 

 A frequent plant in sub-alpine regions of Switzerland. 



Astragalus Cicer L. 



Differs from the last in its more erect habit, and in having pale 

 yellow flowers, narrower oblong leaflets, and a hispid, globular pod, 

 which turns black when ripe. Grassy and bushy places in the hills ; 

 local. June, July. 



