214 



THE PEAFLOWER TRIBE. 



black hairs, and partially divided inside by a narrow projection from 

 the side next the keel. Seeds 3 to 6. 



An alpine plant, common in the great mountain-ranges of central 

 and northern Europe and Russian Asia, and extending far into the 

 Arctic Regions. In Britain, only in the mountains of Clova and Brae- 

 mar in Scotland. Fl. summer. 



3. Sweet Astragal. Astragalus glycyphyllos, Linn. 

 (Fig. 266.) 



(Eng. Bot. t. 203. Milkvetch.) 



A glabrous perennial, of a light green 

 colour ; the zigzag stems spreading along 

 the ground to the length of 2 feet or 

 even more. Stipules free. Leaflets 11, 

 13, or more, ovate, 1 to 1^ inches long, 

 the common leafstalk full 6 inches. 

 Flowers about 6 or 7 lines long, of a dingy 

 yellow, spreading or pendulous, in ra- 

 cemes rather shorter than the leaves. 

 Pods erect, curved, glabrous, above an 

 inch long, completely divided into 2 cells 

 by a thin double partition, with 6 to 8 

 seeds in each half. 



In rather dry, open woods, and bushy 

 places, over the greater part of Europe 

 and Russian Asia, except the extreme 

 north. Not common in Britain, al- 

 though it ranges over a great part of 

 England, especially the eastern counties, 

 and southern Scotland ; not recorded from Ireland. Fl. summer. 



Fig. 266. 



XII. OXYTROPE. OXYTROPIS. 



Low, tufted perennials, only differing from Astragal in the keel, which 

 has a small point at its extremity, either erect or slightly recurved, and 

 in the pod, which has an incomplete longitudinal partition projecting 

 into the cavity from the angle next the vexillum (the one which bears 

 the seeds), not from the angle next the keel. 



A considerable genus, but not so numerous nor so widely spread as 



