Leguminosce Lathyrus. 133 



6. L. tuberdsus. A tuberous-rooted species with unijugate 

 leaves, leaflets oblong, tendrils slightly branched. Peduncles 

 long, several - flowered ; flowers medium -sized, rosy -pink. 

 Europe. 



26. OROBUS. 



This differs from the last genus in having no tendril at the 

 tip of the petiole, and is usually united with it ; but for our 

 purpose it is more convenient to keep it separate. The Latin 

 name. Bitter Vetch is the common English appellation. 



1 . 0. vernus. A valuable early flowering species. It grows 

 -about a foot or 18 inches high. Leaves composed of about 

 three pairs of lanceolate acute leaflets. Flowers reddish 

 purple, changing to pale blue. A native of Europe, flowering 

 in April and May. 



2. 0. luteus. A handsome plant of about the same stature 

 as the preceding. Leaflets about 8, elliptical, rather acute, 

 glaucous beneath. Flowers yellow. Siberia. 



3. 0. riiger. An indigenous mountain species, 1 to 2 feet 

 high. Leaves of 3 to 6 pairs of oblong-lanceolate acute 

 leaflets. Peduncles equalling or exceeding the leaves, 2- to 

 8-flowered ; flowers livid purple, fading to .blue. 



4. 0. dlbus. This is a distinct species with about 6 narrow 

 linear-lanceolate acute leaflets. This species is very variable 

 in the colour of its flowers, ranging from white and cream 

 tinged with rose to purple and white and yellow. It includes 

 0. varius, versicolor, and canescens< A native of Austria, 

 flowering in Spring. 



Besides the above there are others equally effective, as 

 0. variegatus, rose crimson and blue striped ; 0. cocdneus, 

 scarlet ; Jordani, blue ; and tuberosus, red fading to blue. 



TRIBE VllI. 



Twining herbs or erect shrubs or trees. Leaves pinnate or 

 digitately trifoliolate. Stamens diadelphous, or the upper one 

 partially united with the others. Pod 2-valved. The Scarlet 

 Runner Bean, Phaseolus multiflorus, belongs to this tribe, and 

 being both handsome and useful may be planted with advan- 

 tage in small gardens for covering arbours, etc. This genus, is 

 remarkable for the twisted keel petals. 



