106 THE PEAFLOWER TRIBE. 
The shrubby MM. arborea, and one or two annual species from southern 
Hurope, have been occasionally cultivated in gardens as cna 
especially the so-called Snazl-plant (M. scutellata). 
1. M. falcata, Linn. (fig. 235). Sickle M.—Stock perennial, with 
decumbent or rarely erect stems 1 to 2 feet long. Stipules narrow 
and entire. Leaflets obovate oblong or nearly linear. Peduncles 
axillary, bearing at their extremity a short, close raceme of flowers, 
rather large for the genus, usually yellow, but sometimes passing into 
blue or violet. Pod much longer than the calyx, flat, more or less 
curved, but never forming more than one complete ring. Seeds 2 or 3. 
On dry banks and open places in central and southern Kurope, and 
central Asia, extending eastward to the Baikal and northward to — 
Sweden. In Britain confined to the eastern counties of England, and 
rare even there. Fl. summer. [M. sylvestris, Fries., with yellower- 
flowers and annular or semicircular pods, is probably a hybrid. ] 
2. M. sativa, Linn. (fig. 236). Lucern.—Much like M. falcata, and 
perhaps only a variety produced by cultivation. It is usually more 
erect, the flowers are almost always violet or blue, and the pod is spirally 
twisted so as to form 2, or sometimes 8, complete rings or coils. 
Apparently of south- eastern origin, but so generally cultivated, that 
no station is known for it where it may not have escaped from cultiva- 
tion. In Britain, certainly introduced only on the borders of fields, 
and in pastures. J. summer. 
3. M. lupulina, Linn. (fig. 237). Black M., Nonsuch.—An annual, 
branching at the base into spreading stems 1 to 2 feet long, and more 
or less clothed with short, soft hairs. Stipules broad and. shortly 
toothed. Leaflets obovate. Peduncles longer than the leaves, bearing 
a compact raceme or oblong head of very small bright yeliow flowers. 
Pods small, 1-seeded, black when ripe, glabrous or slightly hairy, 
kidney- shaped, but marked with veins, curved almost into a complete 
spire. 
In pastures and waste places, throughout Europe and central and 
Russian. Asia, except the extreme north, and often cultivated among 
‘artificial grasses.” Frequent in Britain, extending to northern Scot- 
land. fl. the whole season. 
4. M. denticulata, Willd. (fig. 238). Toothed M.—An annual, branch- 
ing at the base into spreading stems from a few inches to above a foot 
long, glabrous, or with a very few appressed hairs. Stipules bordered 
with fine teeth. Leaflets obovate or obcordate. Flowers very small, in 
little heads, on peduncles rather longer than the leaflets. Pod spirally 
twisted, formed of 2 or 3 loose, flat coils, elegantly veined on the sur- - 
face, and usually edged with 2 rows of more or less hooked or curved 
prickles, but not furrowed between them. 
In cultivated and waste places, especially near the sea, very abundant 
in the Mediterranean region and west central Asia, and carried out 
with cultivation to many parts of the world. In Britain it appears to 
have established itself in some of the southern and eastern counties of 
England. 1. spring and summer. A variety with smaller pods, with 
the prickles very short and not hooked, is M. apiculata, Willd. [Another — 
with prickles longer than the semi-diameter of the subglobular pod is 
M. lappacea, Lamk.| | | 
5. M. maculata, Willd. (fig. 239). Spotted M.—An almost glabrous _ 
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