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Trifolium. ]  -XXV. PAPILIONACEE, 115 
18. T. procumbens, Linn. (fig. 262). Hop Clover.—aA slender annual, 
much branched at the base, glabrous or slightly downy, procumbent or 
nearly erect, 6 inches to a foot long, or ratber more. Stipules broad and 
pointed. Leaflets obovate or obcordate, the central one at some distance 
from the others. Flower-heads loosely globular or ovoid, on rather long 
axillary peduncles, containing 30 to 50 small yellow flowers on very short 
pedicels ; in fading, the flowers become refl-xed, and turn pale brown, with 
a broadly obovate standard, distinctly marked with longitudinal furrows, 
and completely concealing the small, 1-seeded pod. 
In rather dry pastures and meadows, on the borders of fields, etc., 
throughout Europe and western Asia, except the extreme north. Abundant 
in Britain generally, but becoming rare in northern Scotland. #1. the 
whole season. In the first edition of this work I had adopted the views of 
MM. Soyer and Gedron in regarding this as the 7. agrarium of Linneus, 
but the subsequent investigations of M. Puel and others having induced 
me to examine carefully Linnzus’s specimens, and the MS. notes in his 
“Species Plantarum,” I find that I was in error, and that Linnzus in- 
cluded both Z. procumbens and TY. minus under his T. procumbens, as 
one species, in which he is probably right ; but as the two forms are usually 
very different in aspect, at least in this country, I have retained them 
under Smith’s names. The true Z. agrarium is but little more than a 
variety of 7. spadiceum ; neither of them is British. 
19, T.minus,Sm, (fig. 263). Lesser Clover.—Very near 7. pro- 
cumbens, and perhaps a variety only, but more slender and procumbent ; 
the flowers smaller, usually 12 to 20 in a head, and ofa paler colour; the 
standard not so broad, more folded, and only faintly striated. ‘The central 
leaflet of each leaf is usually at some distance from the others, as in 
T. procumbens, excepting sometimes in the lower leaves. Pedicels of the 
flowers much shorter than the tube of the calyx. 7. dubswm, Sibth. 
As common as Z. procumbens over the greater part of Europe, but does 
not appear to extend so far to the east or to the north. In Britain, also as 
abundant as 7. procumbens, excepting, perhaps, inthenorth. Fl. the whole 
season, Starved specimens of this species are much like the more luxuriant 
ones of T. jiliforme, and chiefly distinguished by the shortness of the 
pedicels. 
20. T. filiforme, Linn. (fig. 264). Slender Clover.—Still more slender 
than 7. minus ; the stems decumbent, ascending, or erect, seldom 6 inches 
long. Leaflets usually narrower than in the last two species, the central 
one inserted immediately between the two others, excepting in the upper 
leaves of very luxuriant specimens. Flowers 2 or 3 in each head, or very 
seldom as many as 5 or 6, smaller than in 7. minus; the pedicels usually 
about as long as the calyx. 
In sandy or stony pastures and waste places, chiefly near the sea, in 
southern Europe; very common round the Mediterranean, and extending 
up western France to the Channel. Rare in Britain, but found as far 
north as Roxburghshire, and doubtfully wild further north. Fl. early 
summer. 
IX. LOTUS. LOTUS. 
Herbs, with pinnate leaves of 5 (rarely 4) leaflets of which 2 (or 1), 
12 
