a a} oer 
- Zs 
ie 
114 THE PEAFLOWER TRIBE. | Trifolium. 
down almost into the ground; the fruiting calyx then turns back upon © 
the peduncle, and is usually surrounded by short thick fibres, each with 
5 spreading, subulate teeth, showing that they are, in fact, undeveloped 
calyxes. 
ia dry, gravelly or sandy pastures, common in southern Europe to the 
Caucasus, and up. western France to the Channel. Abundant in many 
parts of southern and central England, and in co. Wicklow in Ireland, 
but not in the north, nor in Scotland. Fl. spring and early summer. 
15, T.fragiferum, Linn. (fig. 259). Strawberry Clover.—The peren- 
nial stock, creeping stems, foliage, and peduncles are those of 7’. repens, 
but the flowers are closely sessile in the head, surrounded by an involucre 
of lobed bracts as long as the calyx-tubes, and the calyx, after flowering, 
becomes much inflated, thin, and reticulate, with short fine teeth; the 
flower-head is then very compact, half an inch or more in diameter, and 
often assumes a pink tint, so as to have been compared to a strawberry. 
Corolla small and red. 
In rather dry meadows and pastures, common in Europe and central and 
Russian Asia, penetrating far into Scandinavia. Frequent in England, 
local in Ireland, and Scotland. #7. swmmer and autumn. 
16, FT. repens, Linn. (fig. 260). White or Dutch Clover.—A glabrous 
or slightly hairy perennial, the stems creeping and rooting at the nodes. 
Stipules small. Leaflets obovate, distinctly toothed, and usually bearing a 
mark in the centre, which has been compared to a horseshoe, the leafstalks 
often very long. Peduncles axillary, long, and erect, bearing a globular 
head, or rather umbel, of white flowers, often tinged with pink; the 
pedicels, after flowering, more or less elongated and recurved. Calyx- 
teeth scarcely so long as the tube, the lowest one usually the shortest. 
Pod containing 2 to 4 seeds, usually protruding from the calyx, but 
enclosed in the withered corolla. 
In meadows and pastures, throughout Europe and Russian Asia, from 
the Mediterranean to the Arctic Circle, and having been long cultivated and 
spreading rapidly in genial soils, it is now common in most temperate 
regions of the globe. Abundant in Britain. In Ireland believed to be of 
comparatively recent introduction, although it is now taken as the national 
emblem in substitution of Owxalis Acetosella, which is asserted by some 
writers to have been the original shamrock. 7. the whole season. 
17. T. hybridum, Linn. (fig.261). <Alsize Clover.—A glabrous peren- 
nial, alliedto 7. repens, but never rooting at the joints, the stems ascending 
or erect, branched, and attaining, when luxuriant, nearly 2 feet. Stipules 
rather large. Leaflets obovate, bearing occasionally a mark in the centre, as 
in 7. repens. Peduncles axillary, longer than the leaves, bearing a globular 
head of pedicellate flowers, with rather more pink in their colour than in 
the common 7% repens, the pedicels similarly elongated and recurved after 
flowering. Calyx and pod as in 7. repens. 
In rich pastures and on the edges of woods, almost all over Continental 
Europe, except the extreme north. Very abundant in Sweden, but not. 
indigenous to Britain. It has however, of late years, been much cultivated, 
and has fully established itself as a roadside weed and in some pastures, in — 
several parts of England. FV, summer. 
