BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
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flower seeds. It is an annual, and its small yellow flowers are produced in May and June. It is only found 
wild in gravelly soils in the southern parts of England. 
THE YELLOW SICKLE MEDICK. (M. falcata, Lin.) 
This species is very nearly allied to the Lucerne; but the flowers are of a pale yellow, and the seed-pods are 
not twisted, but only gently curved in the shape of a sickle. It is a perennial, and it flowers in June and July. 
THE BLACK MEDICK, OR NONESUCH. (M. lufulina, Lin.) 
This is an annual plant, with the flowers in heads, something like those of the Hop Trefoil, and very small 
coiled-up seed-pods, which, when ripe, are quite black. It flowers from May till September. It is frequently 
sown in pasture lands, and sheep are said to be remarkably fond of it. 
THE FLAT TOOTHED MEDICK. (M. muricata, Willd.) 
This plant is nearly allied to M. maculata. It is only found on the sea-coast of Suffolk, and is rather a 
doubtful native. 
THE LITTLE BUR MEDICK. (M. minima, Willd.) 
This species is found in sandy places in the eastern counties of England, and bears considerable resemblance 
to the last species. The flowers are yellow and very small; but the legumes are large and coiled up, every coil 
being fringed with bristles, so as to make the legumes bear a considerable resemblance to the Bur, and hence the 
English name of the plant. The plant is an annual, and its flowers are produced in June and July. 
THE RETICULATED MEDICK. (M. denticclata, Willd.) 
This species is very nearly allied to M. maculata , of which many botanists make it only a variety. It is an 
annual, and its very small flowers are produced in July and August. 
II.—THE VETCH TRIBE. 
The corolla in this tribe is always papilionaceous, and the stamens always in two parcels, nine having gene¬ 
rally their filaments united, and one being distinct. The pod is always one-celled, and not jointed like the pod 
of the Pea. The cotyledons are thick and fleshy, like those of the Lupine; but, in germination, they always 
remain below ground, and never turn green. All the genera contained in this tribe are in the Linnaaan class and 
order Diadelphia Decandria. __ 
GENUS XII. 
THE TARE. (Ervum Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA. 
Generic Character.— Calyx 5-cleft, with linear acute segments as long as the corolla. Style smooth. Pod oblong, 2 or 4-seeded. (Dec.) 
Description, &c.— This is a small genus of annual, climbing plants, which are common in every part of the 
world; and which are generally very troublesome to the farmer, from the great abundance of their seeds, and the 
ease with which they vegetate. Two species, E. Lens and E. Ervilia, which are common in Asia and in the 
south of Europe, produce the seeds called Lentils, which constitute so large a portion of the food of the children 
in the French boarding-schools and which are also supposed to have formed the red pottage for which Esau 
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