I lO LEGUMINOSzE. 



of rough gravelly pastures at high elevations on the Alps and 

 Pyrenees. 



P. frigida {Frigid Bastard Vetch). — This species produces 

 many unbranched stems, clothed with leaves composed of eight 

 or more leaflets, bluntly egg-shaped, and slightly fringed on the 

 margin with spreading hairs. The flowers are in short racemes, 

 and pale yellow, appearing in July and August. Native of the 

 Alps of Austria. 



Sophora. — This group is more remarkable for its handsome 

 trees than for any very valuable hardy herbaceous plants ; yet 

 there are a few of these which, though they cannot be com- 

 mended as select or first-rate ornamental subjects, produce 

 handsome racemes of flowers and fine foliage, and have a cer- 

 tain bold massiveness about them that fits them for some pur- 

 poses that more showy species would be considered as thrown 

 away in. They are quite worthy of a place in large collections, 

 in borders where amiple room may be allowed, and are suitable 

 for furnishing groves and open places about woods with variety 

 of verdure and a little colour ; and they may be used also on 

 the margins of shrubberies with good effect. They are propa- 

 gated by division in autumn, and prefer a rich deep loam, but 

 succeed very well in inferior soils. 



S. alopecuroides (Foxtail S.) — This species grows from 2 to 

 3 feet high, with stout erect stems branching freely on the upper 

 part. The leaves are long, pinnate, composed of many oval 

 leaflets, slightly clothed on the upper side with silky hairs, 

 which become more conspicuous as they increase in age. The 

 flowers are in racemes, terminating the stems and branches, 

 and are dull yellow. They appear in summer. Native of the 

 Levant. 



S. flavescens ( Yellowish S.) — This species is scarcely so tall 

 and robust as the last, rarely exceeding 2 feet ; but in general 

 habit they have a strong resemblance ; the same character of 

 leaves ; the leaflets broader for their length, the same terminal 

 racemes of flowers, which are, however, pale yellow or straw- 

 coloured. Native of Siberia. The flowers precede those of the 

 Foxtail S. by about a month. 



Thermopsis. — This is a small genus of handsome and inter- 

 esting plants ; only two species, so far as I am aware, are in cul- 

 tivation, and these are rare, and seldom if at all seen in private 

 collections, and not in many nurseries. They are worthy of 

 more extensive cultivation, being select and rather peculiar in 

 their style — and plants of that character we want more of in all 

 our gardens. They are not so easy to cultivate as many of the 

 hardy herbaceous perennials. The soil they like best is well- 



