O R O B U S Veinus. 

 Spring Orobus. 



Class and Order. — Diadelphia Decaxdria. 



Syn. Orobus Vernus. Cur. Bot. Mag. pi. 521. 



— Orobus Vernus. Hor. Kew. vol. 3. p. 38. 



Root fibrous— stem erect, branching, one foot or more in height- stipules 

 large, sagittate, auriculate — leaves pinnate — -leaflets ovate, acute — 

 peduncles long, axillary — ^pedicels very short — calyx five cleft, base 

 obtuse, tinted with red — flower papilionaceous — vexillum pink, broadly 

 ovate, margin undulate — alae blue, obtuse ; carina white — stamens ten, 

 united by their filaments into two parcels, nine in one set, with a single 

 one separate — style one. 



The Orobus vernus is a most valuable Spring flower, and is one 

 of the earliest of our herbaceous plants ; — it is a native of the middle 

 and south of Europe, and was first introduced into this country about 

 the year 1629 ; — a light soil suits it best, though being very hardy it 

 will flourish in any situation, and considering the facility with which 

 it is cultivated, it is surprizing it is not more common ; — it flowers in 

 March, and is increased by dividing the roots or by seed — some of 

 the most desirable species are 



PI. 11. 



