116 THE PEAFLOWEE TKIBE. [Lotus. 



b. L. crassifolius, Pers. Low and spreading, often tufted at the 

 base, glabrous or nearly so, usually with 5 or 6 rather large flowers to 

 the umbel. Leaflets broad, and often glaucous, especially near the sea, 

 where they become much thicker. In open pastures and on dry, sunny 

 banks. 



c. L. villosus, Coss. and Germ. Like the common variety, but covered 

 with long spreading hairs. In dry, sunny situations, common in 

 southern Europe, but in Britain found only in Kent and Devon. 



d. L. tenuis, Waldst and Kit. Slender and more branched than the 

 common form, with very narrow leaflets. In poor pastures and grassy 

 places, chiefly in south-eastern Europe. Kare in Britain, and always 

 running much into the common form. L. decumbens, Forst. 



2. L. angustissimus, Linn. (fig. 267). Slender L. — An annual, more 

 slender and branched than L. comiculatus, always hairy, and with 

 smaller leaflets. Peduncles short, the flowers scarcely above half the 

 size of those of L. comiculatus, often solitary or 2 together, very 

 seldom 3 or even 4 in the umbel. Calyx-teeth longer than the tube. 

 Pod slender, 8 or 9 lines long. 



In meadows, pastures, and fields, very common in southern Europe, 

 extending eastward in southern Eussia to the Altai, and northward 

 along the coasts of western Europe to the Channel. In Britain, only 

 on the south coast of England, extending eastward to Kent. Fl. early 

 in summer, and often again in autumn. L. hispidus, Desf., is a larger, 

 more hairy variety, having often 3 flowers to the umbel, with a thicker 

 pod, often less than 6 lines long. It has the same range as the more 

 slender variety. 



X. ANTHYLLIS. ANTHYLLIS. 



Herbs, with pinnate leaves, and yellow, red, or purple flowers in 

 crowded heads or umbels, with a deeply divided bract close underneath. 

 Calyx inflated, with 5 small teeth. Stamens all united in an entire 

 sheath. Pod enclosed in the calyx, with few seeds. 



A genus of few species, chiefly from the Mediterranean region, allied 

 to Lotus in inflorescence, to Genista in its stamens, and easily distin- 

 guished by the calyx. 



1. A. Vulneraria, Linn. (fig. 268). Kidney Vetch, Lady's-ftngers. — 

 Stock perennial, and often tufted, with spreading or ascending stems, 

 from a few inches to a foot long ; the whole plant more or less clothed 

 with short, appressed, silky hairs. Leaflets narrow and entire, 6 lines 

 long or more ; in the upper leaves often numerous and not very un- 

 equal ; in the lower leaves the terminal leaflet is usually oblong, an inch 

 long or more, with very few much smaller ones along the stalk ; or in 

 the first leaves the terminal one stands alone. Flower-heads usually in 

 pairs at the ends of the branches, each one surrounded by a digitate, 

 leafy bract ; the flowers numerous and closely sessile. Calyx hairy, 

 much inflated, and contracted at the mouth. Corolla small, varying 

 from a pale or bright yellow to a deep red. 



In dry pastures and rocky stony places, chiefly in hilly districts, 

 throughout Europe and western Asia, from the Mediterranean to the 

 Arctic Circle. Eanges generally over Britain, although here and there 

 considerable districts may be without it. Fl. summer, commencing early. 



