CLASS XVII. ORDER III. ] OROBUS. 1007 
two to four pairs of linear lanceolate leaflets; stipules half arrow- 
shaped, lanceolate, acuminate ; legume linear, oblong, smooth ; stem 
winged. 
English Botany, t. 169 —English Flora, vol. iii. p. 278.— Hooker, 
British Flora, ed 4. vol. i. p. 270.—Lindley, Synopsis, p. 86. 
Root branched, spreading. The whole plant smooth, somewhat 
glaucous. Stem winged, simple, or slightly branched, from three to 
four feet high. Petiole rounded, or somewhat angular, not winged, 
terminating in a branched tendril, and bearing from two to four pairs 
of elliptic lanceolate leaflets, each with a stout mid-rib, and several 
slender lateral ones. Stipules half arrow-shaped, mostly very narrow, 
but variable in width, the auricle lanceolate, acuminate. Inflorescence 
axillary peduncles, longer than the leaves, terminating in a raceme of 
from three to eight flowers, each having at the base of its pedicle a 
small bractea. Calyx campanulate, with short unequal lanceolate 
teeth. Corolla pale purple, variegated with pink and white, the 
vexillum notched. Legume linear, oblong, straight, smooth. 
Habitat—Moist thickets, wet meadows, and boggy places in 
various parts of England; but not common. Galloway, Scotland. 
Perénnial ; flowering in July and August. 
GENUS XXIV. ORO'BUS.—Linn. Bitter Vetch. 
Nat. Ord. Papitiona'cEs. LInn. 
Gry. Cuar. Calya campanulate, its mouth oblique, unequally five- 
cleft, obtuse at the base. Stamens diadelphous. Style slender, 
linear, downy above. Legumes cylindrical, oblong, of one cell, 
many seeded. Seed with a linear hilum.—Name from ow, 
to strengthen, or invigorate ; and ovs, an ox; so called from its 
supposed great power of strengthening cattle which feed upon it. 
1. O. tubero'sus, Linn. (Fig. 1174.) Tuberous Orobus, or Bitter 
Vetch. Stem winged; petioles winged, terminating in a point, and 
bearing two to four pairs of: oblong lanceolate or linear leaflets, very 
glaucous beneath; stipules half arrow shaped, entire, or toothed at 
the base ; underground stems creeping, and tuberous at the joinis. 
English Botany, t. 1153.—English Flora, vol. iii. p. 171.—Hooker, 
British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 268 —Lindley, Synopsis, p. 87. 
B. tenuifolius, (Fig, 1175.) Leaves linear, very narrow. 
O. tenuifolius, Roth —O. gracilis, Gaud.—O. setiformis, Schleich. 
8. English Flora, vol. iii. p. 271.—Hooker, British Flora, ed. 4. 
vol i. p. 268. 
foot with creeping underground stems, having here and there 
oblong fleshy tubers, black externally, the whole plant smooth, dark 
green. Stems angular, and with a narrow wing from each angle, 
erect, simple, about a foot high, leafy. Petioles angular, winged, 
