Trifolium.] XXV. PAPILIONACEJE. Ill 



In pastures, dry meadows, and open woods, in central and southern 

 Europe to the Caucasus, but not crossing the Baltic. In Britain, confined 

 to a few of the eastern counties of England. Fl. summer. 



5. T. pratense, Linn. (fig. 249). Red or Purple G. — Stock usually 

 perennial, but of few years' duration. Stems decumbent or nearly erect, 



1 to 2 feet long, and hairy. Stipules rather large, ovate, veined, with 

 long green points. Leaflets obovate or obcordate. Flowers of a reddish 

 purple, about 6 lines long, in dense terminal, ovoid or globular heads, 

 with 2 sessile, trifoliolate leaves close at their base, or very rarely the 

 heads are shortly stalked above them. Calyx-teeth subulate and hairy, 

 the lowest longer than the others. After flowering, the petals turn 

 brown, the calyx remains erect, enclosing the usually single-seeded pod. 



In meadows and pastures, throughout Europe and central and northern 

 Asia, from the Mediterranean to the Arctic Circle, ascending high up 

 into mountain regions. It has, however, been so long cultivated, that in 

 some localities it may not be truly indigenous. Abundant in Britain. 

 Fl. the whole summer. [The common form is that cultivated as a fodder 

 plant (var. sativum, Schreb.) ; the presumed indigenous state is a small 

 one with a shorter corolla, var. parviflora, Bab.] 



6. T. medium, Linn. (fig. 250). Zigzag or Meadow C. — Very much 

 resembles T. pratense, and may be a mere variety. It is a handsomer 

 plant, with narrower stipules and leaflets ; the heads of flowers are 

 always more or less pedunculate above the last floral leaves, and the 

 corolla rather larger, of a brighter and richer colour. The zigzag stem 

 is not a very constant differential character, and even the pedunculate 

 flower-heads may be occasionally observed also in T. pratense. 



In open woods, bushy pastures, on banks and roadsides, in northern 

 and central Europe, and across Russian Asia, becoming a mountain 

 plant in southern Europe. Generally spread over Britain, but more 

 common in southern Scotland and northern England than further north 

 or south ; extends also into Ireland. Fl. summer. 



7. T. maritimum, Huds. (fig. 251). Sea C. — A pubescent annual, 

 with spreading or decumbent stems, seldom above a foot high, and more 

 slender than the* last three, with much smaller flowers. Stipules long 

 and narrow. Leaflets narrow-obovate or oblong. Flower-heads at first 

 globular, then ovoid, shortly pedunculate above the last leaves. Calyx- 

 teeth at first subulate, the lower one longer than the others, but all much 

 shorter than in T. pratense, and after flowering they are somewhat 

 enlarged, stiff, and slightly spreading. Corolla pale pink, rather longer 

 than the calyx. T. squariosum, Linn. 



In salt-marshes and rich meadows near the sea, in southern and 

 western Europe, rarely extending inland along great rivers. In Britain, 

 confined to southern England, and has been occasionally found in 

 Ireland. Fl. summer, rather early. 



8. T. striatum, Linn. (fig. 252). Knotted O.—A small, tufted, more 

 or less spreading annual, covered with short, soft hairs. Stipules ovate, 

 ending in a fine point. Leaflets obovate. Flower-heads small, ovoid 

 or globular, chiefly terminal, and closely sessile within the last leaves, 

 of which the stipules are very broad and thin, with occasionally 1 or 



2 heads sessile in the axils of the upper leaves. Calyx softly hairy, 

 with short but subulate teeth, which remain erect after flowering. 

 Corolla very small and pale red. 



