Lotus. | XXV. PAPILIONACEA, 117 
tending eastward in southern Russia 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. LL. hispidus, Desf., is alarger, 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 in- 
flated, 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 distinguished 
by the calyx. 
1, 4. Vulneraria, Linn. (fig. 267). Common <Anthyllis, Kidney 
Vetch, Lady’s-fingers.—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 unequal; 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 in- 
flated, 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, ees a 
out Europe and western Asia, from the Mediterranean to the Arctic Circle. 
Ranges generally over Britain, although here and there considerable dis- 
tricts may be without it. 7. summer, commencing early. 
XI. ASTRAGALUS. ASTRAGAL. 
Herbs, with pinnate leaves, and pink, purple, bluish, pale yellow, or 
white flowers, in axillary racemes or spikes, without leafy bracts. Stipules 
entire at the base (not sagittate). Calyx with 5 teeth. Petals usually 
narrow. Keel obtuse. Stamens diadelphous, the upper one entirely free. 
Pod cylindrical or inflated, usually more or less divided lengthwise by a 
complete or partial partition proceeding from the side next the keel. 
Seeds several. 
A very numerous genus, distributed all over Europe, central and northern 
Asia, North America, and down the Andes of South America; penetrating 
far into the Arctic regions, ascending to high alpine summits, and abundant 
in the hot rocky districts of the Mediterranean region. 
Stems 2 or 3 feet long, with large leaflets, and dingy yellow flowers 3. A. glycyphyllos. 
Low plants, with small leaflets, and bluish-purple flowers. 
Flowers 8 or 9 lines long. Pods erect, not twice the length of 
the calyx : 1. A. hypoglottis. 
Flowers not 6 lines long. Pods pendulous, 3 or 4 times the 
length of the calyx . : » 2. A, alpinus, 
