192 HARDY PERENNIALS AND 



Orobus Vernus. 



PEASELING, OR SPRING BITTER VETCH; Nat. Ord. LEGTJMINOSJE, 



A HARDY herbaceous perennial ; it flowers in very early spring, 

 and sometimes sooner, but it is in full beauty in April, its. 

 blooming period being very prolonged. Not only is this bright 

 and handsome pea flower worth attention being a very old subject 

 of English gardens, but also because of its intrinsic merit as a 

 decorative plant. I say plant designedly, as its form is both 

 sprightly and elegant, which, I fear, the illustration (Fig. 70) 

 can hardly do justice to more especially its spring tints and 

 colours. 



FIG. 70. OROBTTS VEBNTJS. 

 (One-fourth natural size.) 



Pretty nearly as soon as the growths are out of the earth the 

 flowers begin to appear. The greatest height the plants attain 

 rarely exceeds a foot ; this commends it as a suitable border 

 plant. Individually the flowers are not showy, but collectively 

 they are pleasing and effective. When they first open they are a 

 mixture of green, red, blue, and purple, the latter predominating. 

 As they become older they merge into blue, so that a plant shows 

 many flowers in various shades, none of which are quite an inch 



