21 8 BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS 



Rheinthal, I observed none but with weak and de- 

 cumbent stalks, and leaves very long and capillary. 

 The specific character taken from the stipules, as 

 being toothed in O. tenuifolius, and without teeth 

 in O. tuberosus, is not less inconstant than that 

 taken from the leaves. I observed them on the 

 same plants, nay upon the same stalk, both with 

 and without teeth. The stalk of O. tuberosus as 

 well as of O. tenuifolius is four-cornered below, 

 two-edged or winged above, and in both some- 

 times quite simple, sometimes branched and diva- 

 ricate at the base. According to these observa- 

 tions, therefore, the character of Orobus tuberosus* 

 as comprising both varieties, would be as follows -, 



Orobus radice tuberosa, caule inferne quadran- 

 gulo, superne ancipiti alato, foliis pinnatis. 



Var. a. foliis bi- et trijugis, lanceolatis et lineari- 

 bus. 



b. stipulis denticulatis et integerrimis. 

 e. caule simplici et basi ramoso diffuso* 



i. Polygala amara, vulgaris & monspeliaca. 

 Linn^us and all subsequent botanical writer: 



