ALASSIO AND ITS FLORA 
45 
Medicago marina (Linnaeus). 
(Nat. Ord. Leguminosae) 
Medicago cordata, Lamar 
A white -tomentose plant, from 1 to 3 
decim. long, entirely trailing on the sand 
branching at the base, with a long slender 
root of the same size as the largest bran- 
ches which rarely exceed the thickeness 
of a knitting needle. 
Leaves alternate, stalked, trifoliate; 
leaflets entire or imperceptibly toothed 
on the upper edge, obovate, cuneated, the 
two lateral sessile on the chief petiole, the 
centre one with a very short petiole which 
is on the continuation of the chief. Length 
of the stalk about the half of a leaflet; sti- 
pulas entire, ciliated. 
Flowers yellow, from 6 to 10 in number 
supported by an axillary peduncle of about 
1 centim. in length; wings equal or scarcely 
passing the keel. Keel split very slightly 
at the apex; very short pedicels; flowers 
in corymb. Calyx 5-toothed in very pointed 
divisions. 
