THE PEA FAMILY 
65 
the standard broad, the keel pointed and curved inwards; stamens 10, with all the filaments 
united into a sheath (monad elphous) ; carpel 1, with its style long and curved. Pod short, 
inflated, enclosed in or very slightly longer than the calyx, with few seeds. Herbs or small under- 
shrubs with leaves usually divided to the midrib into three leaflets (pinnately trifoliate), rarely 
undivided (simple), with leafy stipules adhering to the leaf-stalks. 
Creeping Rest Harrow, Wild Liquorice. (Ononis repens, Linn.)— As just 
described. The pink flowers f inch long, solitary in the axils of the leaves forming elongated 
terminal clusters; the pod, inflated, shorter than the calyx; the stem 1-2 feet long, branched, tough, 
prostrate, hairy, with runners : the leaves divided to the midrib (pinnate) into 3 oblong leaflets 
(trifoliate), and the leafy stipules adhering to the leaf-stalk. The whole plant has a strong scent. 
[Plate 33. 
Common. Heaths, sandy shores, dry pastures. June — September. Perennial. 
Erect Rest Harrow. (Ononis spinosa, Linn.) — A very similar plant, with flowers of a 
deeper pink ; a more erect stem, spinous, without runners ; and pods longer than the calyx. 
Common. Waste places, roadsides. June — September. Perennial. 
Small Spreading Rest Harrow. (Ononis reelinata, Linn.) — A small annual species 
with cylindrical drooping pods, and the stem from 2-6 inches high, sticky (viscid) and hairy. 
Very rare. Channel Isles, sandy cliff's. June — July. Annual. 
FENUGREEK. (TRIGONELLA, LINN.) — Flowers solitary or in short clusters (umbels), yellow 
or white. Calyx of 5 sepals united into a tube and separating into 5 nearly equal teeth ; petals 5, 
butterfly-shaped (papilionaceous); stamens 10, 9 united, the upper one free (diadelphous) ; carpel 1. 
Fruit a pod, longer than the calyx, compressed, many-seeded. Herbs with leaves divided to the 
midrib into 3 leaflets (trifoliate), and with leafy stipules adhering to the leaf-stalk. 
Bird’s-foot Fenugreek. (Trigonella purpurascens, Lam.)— The only British species 
(as just described). The flowers small, § inch long, white tinged with flesh-colour, 1-3 together, the 
petals remaining with the fruit (persistent), the pod narrow, twice as long as the calyx, and the 
prostrate stems 2-8 inches long. Strongly scented. 
Rare. Sandy pastures, especially near the sea. June — August. Annual or biennial. 
MEDICK. (MEDICAGO, LINN.) —Flowers yellow or purple, in short loose clusters (racemes) 
terminating the main stem and branches. Calyx of 5 sepals united into a bell-shaped 
tube (campanulate), and separating into 5 teeth ; petals 5, butterfly-shaped (papilionaceous) ; 
stamens 10, 9 united, the tenth free (diadelphous); carpel 1. Fruit a pod, longer than the calyx, 
few-seeded, much curved or spirally coiled, generally decaying to free the seeds (indehiscent) instead 
of opening by valves. Herbs with the leaves divided to the midrib (pinnate) into 3 leaflets 
(trifoliate), the stipules being leafy and adhering to the leaf-stalk. 
*Lucerne op Purple Mediek. (Medieago sativa, Linn.)— Not a native. As just 
described. The flowers | inch long, numerous, mauve or rarely yellowish, in terminal clusters 
(racemes) ; the fruit a pod, spirally coiled, forming 2-3 coils, downy, brown ; the stem 1-2 
feet high, erect and hollow ; the leaves divided to the midrib into 3 leaflets (pinnately trifoliate), 
the leaflets being oblong, toothed, and terminating in a short, sharp point (apiculate). [Plate 33. 
Common in districts where Lucerne is cultivated for fodder. Dry banks, borders of fields. June 
— July. Perennial. 
Wood Mediek. (Medieago sylvestris, Fries.)— A similar plant, with yellow or blackish- 
green flowers and flat pods coiled into a semicircle or into a complete ring. 
Very rare. Sandy places in Norfolk and Suffolk. June — July. Perennial. 
F 
