BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
117 
1.—THE COMMON KIDNEY-VETCH. (Anthyllis vulneraria, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 104 ; 2nd ed , t. 997 ; and our jig. 1, in PL 27. 
Specific Character. —Herbaceous. Leaves pinnate, unequal. Heads of flowers in pairs. (Smith.) 
Description, &c. —The Common Kidney-Vetch has generally a large head of yellow flowers; but there 
are varieties of it, found chiefly in Wales and Scotland, the flowers of which are red or white. The heads of 
flowers are very much crowded, and are in somewhat of a kidney-shape. The plant is a perennial, and only 
grows in dry chalky soils. Cattle are said to be very fond of it as herbage. The flowers are produced from 
June till September. The plant was formerly considered an useful styptic, and hence the name of vulnerarun 
which signifies good for wounds. 
GENUS VI. 
THE MILK-VETCH. (Astragalus, Lin.) 
Lin. Si/st. DIADELPIilA DECANDRIA. 
Generic Character. —Calyx 5-toothed. Corolla with an obtuse I suture being turned inwards. Herbaceous plants or small shrubs, 
keel. Stamens diadelphous. Pod 2-celIed, or half 2-celled, the lower | with pinnate leaves. (Dec.) 
Description, &c. —The plants belonging to this genus are mostly herbaceous, and the flowers are purple, 
pale yellow, or white. There are only two species common in England, though a third kind has been found in 
Scotland. The name of Astragalus signifies the vertebrae, in allusion to the knotted roots of some of the species, 
which look like joints. It is placed in the Linnaean class and order Diadelphia Decandria, from its ten stamens 
having nine united and one free. 
1.—THE SWEET MILK-VETCH, OR WILD LICORICE. (Astragalus glycyphyllos, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 203 ; 2nd ed., t. 1022. i gular, incurved. Leaves longer than the flower-stalks ; leaflets oval. 
Specific Character. —Stem prostrate. Legumes obscurely trian- | (Smith.) 
Description, &c.— This species, though frequently found in England in woods or thickets on chalky 
or gravelly soils, is very rare in Scotland. The plant is not at all ornamental. Its stems, which are two 
or three feet long, lie trailing on the ground ; its leaves are pinnate, and its flowers are of a dingy yellow. The 
root is remarkably large and thick, and if chewed when fresh, it has very much the taste of licorice ; but when 
dried, it becomes excessively hard. It is a perennial, and it flowers in July. 
2.—THE PURPLE MOUNTAIN MILK-VETCH. 
Synonymes. —A. arenarius, Huds.; A. danicus, Retz. ; A. epi¬ 
glottis, Dicks. 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 274 ; 2nd ed., t. 1023 ; and our fig. 
2, in PI. 27. 
Description, &c.—T his plant is found generally in 
(Astragalus hypoglottis, Lin.) 
Specific Character. —Stem prostrate. Flowers in round heads. 
Legumes ovate, deeply channelled along the back, compressed, hairy ; 
hooked at the point. Leaflets blunt. (Smith.) 
open situations on rising ground, or on chalky rocks 
near the sea-coast. It only grows in chalky or sandy soils. The flowers are produced in heads, and are generally 
purple, or purple and white ; but occasionally they are quite white. The plant is a perennial, and it flowers 
in July. 
