116 LKGUMiNOS^. \Melilotus. 



edges with a double row of move or less spie.idiiifj or divergent very rigid spines, 

 hooked at their extremities and about half the diameter uf the jjod in length, the 

 thin siitural margin of the legume running between the two rows. Seeds large, 

 yellowish, oblongo-reniform, very smooth, shining and much compressed. 



VII. Melilotus, Tourn. Melilot. 



" Calyx 5-toothed ; teeth nearly equal. Petals distinct, deci- 

 duous. Keel obtuse. Legume 1- or few-seeded, indehiscent, 

 longer than the calyx. — Flowers in long racemes. Leaves trifo- 

 liolate." — Br. Fl. 



1. M. officinalis, L. Common Yellow Melilot. " Legumes 1 — 2 

 seeded ovate comiaressed pointed irregularly veined and rugose, 

 racemes lax, corolla more than twice as long as the calyx, petals 

 all of nearly equal length, stem erect." — Br. Fl. p. 98. Trifo- 

 lium, Sm. : E. B. t. 1340. 



In woods, thickets, hedges, borders of fields, and on banks by the sea, in many 

 places abundantly. Fl. June— August. Fr. August, September. <?. or 0. 

 Sm. &c. 



E. Med. — Between Ryde and Sea View. Abundant on the shore near the 

 Priory, and in a wood below St. Helen's. In Inwards Copse, near Ashey. Sleep 

 banlis facing the sea South of Luccombe chine, in plenty. In vast profusion in 

 Bloodstone Copse, 1845, actually covering the ground in some parts so as wholly 

 to conceal it from view, appearing to have sprung up in consequence of the recent 

 clearing of the copse, as I had not previously remarked it there, and of the vast 

 assemblage of plants scarcely one could be found in blossom, August 24th, a pretty 

 clear proof of its being biennial or perennial, not annual, as given by some authors. 

 Between Tiuckles and Hardingsboot. Woods between Luccombe and Shanklin, 

 in profusion. Dr. Martin ! 



W. Med. — Near Hampstead farm in various places. Abundantly on the banks 

 of slipped clay between W. Cowes and Gurnet bay, between Egypt House and 

 the old limekiln on the shore. 



Legumes drooping or pendulous, about 2 to 3 lines in length, brownish or black, 

 attenuated or substipitate within the far shorter calyx, ovate more or less inclining 

 to uvate-orbicular or subrhomboidal, somewhat inflated, coarsely, prominently and 

 reliculately rugose, sprinkled with fine appressed hut sparsely scattered hairs, 

 maryins thin and flat, partially dehiscent along the very compressed upper suture, 

 whiLh terminates obliquely and anteriorly in the rather long straight or recurved 

 biise of the style. Seeds 2 or often 1 by abortion, pale greenish, reddish or brown- 

 ish yeUow, subconipressed, glabrous, truncate and obliquely cordate at top by a 

 deep notch, in the centre of which is a circular depression surrounding the slightly 

 oval hilum. 



I have remarked the blossoms of this plant to be very attractive to hees. 



f2. M. vulgaris, Willd. White Melilot. "Legumes 1 — 3 

 seeded ovate obtuse mucronate reticulato-rugose, racemes lax, 

 corolla twice as long as the calyx, keel and wings shorter than the 

 standard, stem erect." — Br. Fl. p. 98. M.leucantha, Koch, E. B. 

 Suppl. t. 2689. Fl. Dan. x. t. 1705. Bab. Man. of Brit. Bot. p. 

 76. 



In waste ground and cultivated field.s, amongst corn, clover or lucerne ; also 

 (but not in this island) on banks by the sea; rare, and apparently introduced. 

 FL July — September. $ . 



E. Med. — A specimen or two amongst clover at the back of a wood called 

 Heath, facing Roughborough farm, between Ryde and Brading. A few specimens 



