120 THE PEAFLOWER TRIBE. [Ornithopus. — 
Cornwall. Fl. spring, and often again towards autumn. “This species has 
been separated as a genus, under the name of Arthrolobium, adopted in the 
first edition of this work; but an examination of all the species known has 
shown that the character relied on, the absence of the leafy bract, is a very 
unimportant one. 
2, O. perpusillus, Linn. (fig. 274). Common Bird’s-foot.—Stems 
spreading on the ground, or slightly ascending, to the length of 6 or 8 
inches. Leaflets 5 to 10 or sometimes more pairs, with an odd one, small, 
oval or oblong, and softly hairy, the lowest pair close to the stem. Flowers 
usually 2 or 3 only on the peduncle, closely sessile over a small, pinnate 
leaf; the keel short and obtuse. Pods slightly downy, about 6 lines long, 
ending in a curved beak ; the articles short and oval. 
In dry pastures, in central and southern Europe, scarcely extending to 
its eastern limits, and northward only into southern Sweden. Abundant 
in many parts of England and the south of Scotland; very rare in 
Ireland and found on the east side only. FU. spring and summer. 
XIV. HIPPOCREPIS. HIPPOCREPIS. 
Herbs or low shrubs, usually glabrous, with pinnate leaves and axillary 
peduncles, bearing an umbel of yellow flowers, without any leaf. Stamens 
diadelphous, the upper one quite free. Pod much flattened, of numerous 
articles, each of them curved like a horseshoe, so that the pod has as many 
deep notches on one side. 
A genus of but few species, chiefly natives of south-western Europe. In 
flower they cannot well be distinguished from Coronilla, but the pod is 
very different. 
1, H. comosa, Linn. (fig. 275). Common Hippocrepis.—Stock peren- 
nial, with numerous stems branching at the base, and either short and 
tufted, or spreading along the ground to the length of 6 inches to a foot. 
Leaflets 9 to 15, small, obovate, oblong, or linear, and glabrous, the lowest 
pair at a distance from the stem. Flowers 5 to 8 in the umhel, resembling 
those of Lotus corniculatus, and with nearly the same pointed keel, but 
rather smaller and paler. Pod about an inch long, ending in a fine point, 
the notches of the inner edge broad and deep. 
In pastures, on banks, etc., chiefly in limestone districts, in central and 
southern, especially western Europe, not extending to northern Germany. 
Abundant in some parts of England, extending to the south of Scotland, 
but not to Ireland. Fl. spring and summer. 
XV. ONOBRYCHIS. SAINFOIN. 
Herbs, with pinnate leaves, without tendrils, and spikes of flowers usually 
pink, on long axillary peduncles. Stamens diadelphous, the upper one 
quite free. Pod sessile, flat, hard, 1-seeded, and indehiscent, strongly 
veined or pitted, and usually either prickly, crested, or winged. 
A genus of several species, chiefly from the eastern Mediterranean region 
and west central Asia, very distinct from any other British Peaflower, but — 
only differing from Hedysarum (a large Europe and Asiatic genus, which ~ 
neludes the so-called French Honeysuckle of our gardens) in the pods — 
being reduced to a single article. 
