4. 



OROBUS VERNUS. 



Spring Bitter -Vetch. 



DiADELPHIA. DeCANDRIA. 



Class \7. Order 4. 



Obobus. Opoto; ofTheophrastus and Dioscorides : from opw, to ex- 

 cite, and ^ovs, an ox ; this herb being used by the ancients to fatten 

 oxen. 



Linn. gen. n. 871. Linn. spec. 1028. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Cal. Perianth one-leaved, tubular, blunt at the base, shrivelling. Cor. 

 papilionaceous. Stain. Filaments diadelphous. Anthers roundish. 

 Pist. Germ cylindrical, compressed. Style filiform. Stigma linear. 

 Per. Legume round, long, acuminate, and ascending, one-celled, 

 two-valved. Seeds numerous, roundish. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



Leaves pinnate-ovate. Stipules semi-sagittate, quite entire. Stem 

 simple. 



Root perennial, fibrous. IStem one foot high, unbranched, 

 smooth, angular. Leaves alternate, petioled. Leaflets three 

 pairs, ovate-lanceolate, sessile, quite entire, nerved, bright- 

 green, smooth, tender. Stipules at the base of the petioles. 

 Midrib or rachis of the leaf long, channelled, ending in a sharp 



