LEGUMINOS^ 127 



Distribution. — Central and Southern Europe, Western Asia as 

 far as Persia. 



In cultivation this rampant, quick growing plant must be kept 

 in check, or it will " swamp " more delicate things. 



Onobrychis Miller. Sainfoin. 



Leaves pinnate, with a terminal leaflet, leaflets entire. Stipules 

 scarious. Flowers red, purple or white in axillary spikes or racemes. 

 Calyx-lobes subulate. Wings short. Keel obliquely truncate. 

 Pod compressed, not jointed, often spiny, winged, or crested. 



About 70 species, inhabiting Europe, temperate Asia, and Africa. 



Onobrychis montana DC. 



This is probably an Alpine variety of the Common Sainfoin, 

 0. vicicBfolia Scop. (0. sativa Lamk.), with beautifully veined 

 crimson flowers, but the blossoms vary considerably in colour. The 

 stems are sub-decumbent, and the leaflets shorter and broader than 

 in the other, and they are usually in 5 to 7 pairs. 



Alpine and sub ^ alpine pastures up to 6500 feet; common. 

 June to August. 



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

 most of mountainous Europe. 



Onobrychis arenaria DC. [0. Gaudiniana Jordan). 



Leaflets oblong-elliptic, 13-20 pairs. Stem more or less prostrate. 

 Flowers white, streaked with red. Pod pubescent, spiny, keeled, 

 and strongly veined on both sides. 



Sandy hills. Local. May, June. 



Distribution. — Southern Switzerland (Tessin, Orisons, Valais), 

 Pyrenees. 



HiPPOCREPIS L. 



Hippocrepis comosa L. Horse-shoe Vetch. 



Stock with numerous stems branching at the base, short and 

 tufted or spreading along the ground. Leaflets 9 to 15, rarely less, 

 small, obovate, oblong, and glabrous, the lowest pair at a distance 

 form the stem. Flowers yeUow, 5-8 in an umbel, like those of 

 Lotus corniculatus, but rather smaller and never tinged with red 

 as the Lotus is, particularly in the mountains. Pod about an inch 

 long, finely pointed, the notches of the inner edge broad and deep, 

 and giving it an almost zigzag appearance. 



Banks, pastures, and rocky places, especially on limestone, 

 from the plains to the Alps. June, July. 



Distribution.— Ctniral, Southern, and Western Europe. British. 



ViciA L. Vetch. 

 Mostly annuals, and either climbing or procumbent. Leaves 

 with many entire or emarginate leaflets, usually ending in a tendril. 



