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A S T R A G A L U S glyciphyllos.
Sw eet Milk-Vetch, or W ild Liquorice.
D I A D E L P H IA Decandria.
G en. C h a r . Pod of two cells, fwelling.
Spec. C har. Stem proftrate. Pods fomewhat triangular,
curved. Leaves longer than the fpikes of
flowers; leaflets oval.
S yn . Aftragalus glyciphyllos. Linn. Sp. PI. 1067.
Hud/. FI. An. 322. With. Bot. Arr. 787. Relh.
Cant. 277. Sibth. Oxon. 227,
A. luteus perennis procumbens, vulgaris five fyl-
veftris. Raii Syn. 336.
P
OUND about way fides, borders of fields, and fimilar
places, on a chalky or gravelly foil In various parts of England,
lefs frequently in Scotland, It is perennial, and flowers in
June; the feeds ripen about Auguft.
The ftems growing proftrate among grafs and bufhes, added
to the greenifh hue of the whole plant, caufe it to be frequently
overlooked, though often extending 2 or 3 feet in length. They
are more or lefs zigzag, angular and ftriated. Leaves alternate,
confifting of about 5 to 7 pair of roundilh or oval leaflets, with
an odd one at the end, and a pair of ovate pointed ftipulae at
the bafe. Spikes of flowers arife from the bofoms of the leaves,
folitary, on foot-ftalks, fhorter than the adjoining leaf. The
flowers are pale fulphur-coloured, often with a brownifh tinge.
Pods reddifh, inflated, containing many feeds.
The leaves when chewed have a fweetifh tafte, which foon
changes to a naufeous bitter. Cattle are not fond of them.
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