TRIFOLIUM Linn. Gen. PI. Diadelphia Decandria.
Flores fubcapitati. Legumen vix calyce Iongius, non dehifcens, deciduum.
Raii Syn. Gen. 24. Herbæ flore papilionaceo seu leguminosæ.
TRIFOLIUM procumbens fpicis ovalibus imbricatis: vexillis deflexis perfiftentibus, caulibus procum-
bentibus. Lmn. Syß.Veg. p . 574. Sp. PI. 1088. F l.S u ec.n .6 7 3-
TRIFOLIUM fpicis ftrepentibus paucifloris, caulibus ere&is. Haller Hiß. 364.
TRIFOLIUM luteum flore lupulino minus. I. B . II. 381.
TRIFOLIUM lupulinum alterum minus. Raii Syn. p. 330. a. 17. The lefler Hop-Trefoil. Hudfon
Fl. Angl. ed. 2. p. 328. Lightfoot Flor. Scot. p. 400. J
RADIX annua, fibrofa.
BAULES plures, fpithamasi, pedales et ultra, teretes, '
duriufculi, pilisadpreflis pubefcentes, praefer- <
tim ad extremitates, purpurei, procumbentes, \
ramofi. <
wOLIA terna, petiolata, remota, inferiora obcordata, |
fuperiora oboVata, plerumque emarginata, ad 1
apicem argute ferrata, plerumque laevia, venis :
reftis, fimplicibus, utnnque impreffis. 1
BETIOLI breves; longitudine Ilipularum.
■ 5TIPUL./E binas, ovatae, acutas, quinquenerves, ad ]
margines pilofae, ball amplexicaufes. \
EEDUNCULI unciales circiter, pubefcentes. |
\
BPIC^E fubrotundae, multiflorae (raro infra o&o, aut J
ultra viginti) laxius imbricatae.
|H \
■ LORES parvi, lutei, pedicellis breviflimis, inlidentes. i
EALYX: P e r i a n t h iu m quinquedentatum, perfift- 1
ens, fubpilofum, dentibus tribus inferioribus 4
longioribus, fubulatis, Jig. 1.
COROLLA papilionacea, perfiftens, marcefcens, de-"*
mum rufa, venis faturatioribus flriata, Jig. 2. 4
| ROOT annual and fibrous.
, STALKS feveral, a fpan, or even a foot or more in
length, rounds hardilh, downy, with hairs
prefled clofe to the ftalk, particularly at the
extremities, purple, procumbent, and branched.
LEAVES growing three together, remotely, Handing
on footftalks, the Towermoft obcordate, the
uppermoft obovate, for the moll part emar-
ginate, towards the top finely ferrated, commonly
fmooth, the veins ftraight, unbranched,
imprefled on each fide of the leaf.
LEAF-STALKS Ihort, the length o f the ftipulas.
STIPULAE-growing in pairs, ovate, pointed, five-ribbed,
edged with hairs, and at the bafe embracing
the ftalk.
FLOWER-STALKS about an inch in length and
downy.
SPIKES roundilh, many-flowered, flowers feldom fewer
than eight or more than twenty, loofely imbricated.
FLOWERS fmall and yellow, fitting on very Ihort
foot-ftalks.
CA L YX ; a P e r i a n t h iu m with fiv e teeth, permanent,
and fom ew h at h a iry , the three low e rm o ft
longer than the reft, and awl-lh ap ed , ƒ#. 1. '
COROLLA p ap ilio nac eou s , p ermanent, and w ith er in
g , fin a lly b ecom in g o f a reddifh b row n
co lo u r , and ftriped w ith v eins o f a d e ep e r
co lo u r , Jig. 2.
SEED-VESSEL an ovate, flat Pod, turning backward,
enclofed in the corolla, which continues, and
containing one feed, jig . 3.
EERICARPIUM: L egumen ovatum, compreflum, 1
monofpermum, deorfum reflexum, corolla !
perfiftente inclufum, ß g . 3.
J The Trifolium irocumbens is often found larger, but more frequently much fmalier, than the fpecimen we have
jere figured. When it grows luxuriantly it bears a near refemblance to the agrarium already publilhed: but in
■ nat Ipecies the fpikes are not only much larger, but affo much more clofely imbricated; compared with the tro-
mmkns, the agrarium may be confidered with us at leaft as a fcarce plant; while that is found only in certain
Biots, the procumbens is met with every where, there being fcarcely a dry hilly paflure, or grafs plat, on which
It may not be found. In its dwarf date it comes very near to the filiforme figured in Ray's SynoMs, tab. 14. fin. 4
■ need it is very difficult to affign their refpeftive limits; but both Mr. Hudson and Mr. L ightfoot agree in
■ »king the filiforme a diftinft fpecies; and the latter alfures us, that culture proves them to be fpecifically different.
| All the Trefoils are confidered as affording excellent pafturage and fodder for cattle. The prefent fpecies is
■ ttaps, not inferior to any of them in thefe refpefts; but the quantity it affords is fo trifling, that it can fcarcelv
»e tnougnt worth cultivating, efpeeially as it is only, an annual. 1
Et flowers during the greateft part o f the Summer.
I * g IeLEI1 defcribes i[ as growing upright, which i t , never does with us, unlefs drawn up by furrounding