LOTI'S. 
167 
witliin them, the pod from which the pi. has sprang is found 
constantly attached at the crown of the root. Sometimes two 
pi. spring from the same pod ; but usually only one seed ger- 
minates. In y. the pods are strikingly dissimilar, with a pecu- 
liarly neat appearance : apparently but not really smaller than 
in a. or /3. from their spines being reduced to little tooth-like 
plaits or tubercles locking the 3^-4 remarkably compact or close 
volutions of the little pill-like pods together, like the cogs or teeth 
on the upper and imder sides of a pair of horizontal wheels : they 
are mostly in pairs and erect. In all other respects the pi. does 
not differ from the common spiny-podded state, of which it is 
doubtless a mere unarmed var. The two forms however are 
found growing always intermixed ; and thus the variation can- 
not be ascribed to difference of soil or situation. 
Occasionally in a. the root becomes strong and woody, throw- 
ing out numerous cespitose prostrate st. ; but this is merely a 
luxuriant state of the pi. due to better soil and a more abun- 
dant supply of water. 
I cannot find anv warrant for the formation of varr. founded 
on the degree of villosity (varying from simply pubescent to 
densely silky-tomentose), or number of fl. on the ped. In both 
these respects it ranges indefinitely according to dryness or 
elevation of locality. 
Tribe IV. Lotece. 
12. Lotus L. 
1. L. parviflorus Desf. 
Wholly pilose; st. slender branched erect procumbent or 
ascending ; lft3. narrow linear-lanceolate or obovate- wedge- 
shaped ; stip. large broadly cordate-ovate acute ; umbels villose 
4r-(j-Jl. ; ped. after fl. curved or arched downwards ; cal. -teeth 
straight linear-subulate as long as the cor., 2-3 times as long as 
the tube ; pods very short scarcely so long as the sep. ovate-oblong 
turgid smooth 6-8-seeded. — Dorycnium parviflorum DC. ii. 208 ; 
Seub. Fl. Azor. 49. no. 378. — Herb. ann. Had. reg. 1, 2, c. 
Rocky dry ground and mountain pastures general. March- J une. 
— Var. : 
a. robusta ; larger with thicker stouter more upright st. and 
larger broader lfts. — L. parvifloms Desf. ii. 206. t. 211. L. mi - 
crocarpos Brot. ii. 119 P — At or above 2000 ft. r. ; banks by the 
roadside a little beyond the Church at Camacha descending 
