3o8 THE ALPINE FLORA 



P. astragalina *. Small plant with stems 3-4 in., 6-10 

 pairs of small, ovate leaflets; drooping flowers of white 

 and violet-blue in short, globose racemes. 



Orobus or Lathyrus 



Eng.: Vetch or Everlasting Pea; Fr. ; Orobe or Gesse; 

 Ger. : Wz\d or Platterbse. 



The wild peas, with flowers mostly rose or carmine, 

 which are found in the Alps, belong to Lathyrus. Their 

 leaves, composed of 2-3 pairs of leaflets, are terminated 

 by a tendril, which allows them to fasten on to shrubs 

 and climb. Some are strongly scented, others scentless. 

 The genus Orobus only differs in the greater number of 

 leaflets composing the leaves, which are without tendrils, 

 and the erect and shorter stems. 



0. luteus (PL XXXII). Angular, erect stems; leaves of 

 two to five pairs of large leaflets, ovate, glaucous under- 

 neath; flowers yellowish, large, in erect racemes equal to 

 or exceeding the leaves. June-July. Grassy escarpments 

 of the Alps and southern Jura. 



