a distinct species must rest principally on the comparative
shortness of the pod, which in this plant rarely exceeds half
an inch in length, and contains about a dozen seeds, while
that of L . angustissimus, although more slender, is generally
more than an inch long, and contains as many as twenty
seeds. The leaflets and stipules of our present plant are
usually broader in proportion, and the flowers rather longer
in proportion to the calyx.
Lotus pilosissimus of DeCandolle would appear from the
description to be a variety of this plant; while his L.diffusus
and L . angustissimus are certainly both to be referred to
our Lotus angustissimus. Both DeCandolle and Persoon
quote Desfontaines, Cat. Hort. Paris. 190 : the last-
named botanist is therefore probably the author of the name,
which is not a good one, as the plant is by no means hispid,
but clothed with soft hairs.
The specific character and synonyms of Lotus angustissimus
(L . diffusus of Engl. Hot. t. 925.) should stand as
follows.
LOTUS angustissimus, (t. 925.)
Slender Bird’s-foot Trefoil *.
Spec. Char. Annual, hairy. Stems prostrate. Heads
about two-flowered. Legumes from twelve to
sixteen times as long as broad.
Syn. L. angustissimus. Linn. Sp. PI. 1090. Smith
Engl. FI. v. 3. 3 15. DeCand. Prod. v. 2. 213.
Hooker Brit. FI. ed. 3. v. 1. 334. Engl Bot
ed. 2. 1045.
L. diffusus. Smith FI. Brit. v. 2. 794. DeCand.
Prod. v. 2. 213.
This is the Hastings plant, and it is also that found by
Dr. Beeke near King’s Teignton.—J. W.
* This English name appears to have been hastily given to L . tenuis in