Bird's-foot

Bird's-foot (Ornithopus), a genus of Leguminosæ, sub-order Papilionacæ, deriving both its popular and its botanical name from the resemblance of the curved pods to birds' claws; the leaves are pinnate, with a terminal leaflet. The Common Bird's-foot (O. perpusillus) grows on dry sandy or gravelly soils, and is a small plant of little importance, although eagerly eaten by sheep. But O. sativus, an annual growing to the height of 2 or 3 feet, a native of Portugal, is cultivated in that country as green food for cattle, and is very succulent and nutritious. Like its British congener, it grows well on very poor soils. Its Portuguese name is Serradilla.