HIPPOCRE'PIS COMO'SA. 
TUFTED HORSESHOE VETCH. 
Class. Order. 
DIADELPHIA. DECANDRIA. 
Natural Order. 
LEGUMINOS^. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration 
Inhabits 
Gt.Britain. 
9 inches. 
May, July. 
Perennial. 
Chky. pi. 
No. 949. 
The generic name, Hippocrepis, is deduced from 
two Greek words, hippos, a horse; and krepis, a 
shoe ; alluding to the shape of the recesses of the 
pods, which are so curved as to give them the shape 
of a horse’s shoe. 
This is a pretty prostrate plant for placing at the 
front of the parterre, where it will be brought near 
to the eye of the observer. It is also suitable for 
ornamenting rock- work, and will grow the more 
freely from having a dry situation. 
It is found in most parts of Europe, where chalk 
prevails, or a dry calcareous soil. In England it 
is chiefly confined to Kent, Bedfordshire, Berk- 
shire, and others of the chalk-producing counties, 
although it may be met with on rocks, in some 
other parts of the kingdom, where lime forms the 
base of their composition. 
This plant requires no care, if a sufficiently dry 
situation be given it. It may be divided at the 
root when increase is desired, which should be ef- 
fected in the spring ; and where a collection of 
these plants is kept in pots, this will form a 
pretty addition. 
'2m. 
