PAPILIONACE^. 189 



V. MEDICK. MEDICAGO. 



Herbs (with, one exotic shrubby species), with leaves pinnately tri- 

 foliolate ; the leaflets usually toothed ; the leafy stipules adhering to the 

 leafstalks ; the flowers small, in short spikes or loose heads, on axillary 

 peduncles. Calyx 5 -toothed. Keel obtuse. Stamens diadelphous, 

 the upper one entirely free. Pod small, with few seeds, very much 

 curved or spirally twisted, and indehiscent. 



A rather numerous genus in the Mediterranean region and a portion 

 of central Asia, with a few species extending as weeds over a great 

 portion of the globe. To determine the annual species it is absolutely 

 necessary to have the fruit, as some cannot be distinguished by any 

 other character. 



Perennials, with conspicuous purple or pale yellow flowers. 

 Stems mostly erect. Flower purple. Pod forming 2 or 



3 spires 2. Lucem M. 



Stems decumbent. Flower pale yellow. Pod not form- 

 ing a complete spire • 1. Sickle M. 



Annuals, with very small, bright yellow flowers. 



Pod small, 1-seeded, not forming a complete spire . . 3. Black M. 

 Pod several-seeded, spirally twisted, edged with prickles. 



Plant downy. Stipules nearly entire 6. Bur M. 



Plant nearly glabrous. Stipules finely toothed. 

 Pod nearly globular, of 3 or 4 spires, furrowed at 



the edge between the prickles ...... 5. Spotted M. 



Pod of 2 or 3 flat loose, strongly-veined spires, not 



furrowed at the edge 4. Denticulate M. 



The shrubby M. arbor ea, and one or two annual species from southern 

 Europe, have been occasionally cultivated in gardens as curiosities, es- 

 pecially the so-called Snail-plant (M. scutellata). 



1. Sickle Medick. Medicago faleata, Linn. (Fig. 231.) 



(Eng. Bot. t. 1016. M. sylvestris, Bab. Man.) 



Stock perennial, with decumbent or rarely erect stems 1 to 2 feet 

 long. Stipules narrow and entire. Leaflets obovate-oblong or nearly 

 linear. Peduncles axillary, bearing at their extremity a short, close 

 raceme of flowers, rather large for the genus, usually yellow, but some- 

 times passing into blue or violet. Pod much longer than the calyx, 

 flat, more or less curved, but never forming more than one complete 

 ring. Seeds 2 or 3. 



