272 DIADELPHIA— DECANDRIA. Orobus. 



sharp ascending point, of 1 cell, and 2 rigid, twisting 

 valves. Seeds several, roundish. 

 Perennial, generally upright herbs, not always smooth. 

 Roots creeping, in some tuberous. Leaves pinnate, or 

 conjugate, without tendrils. Stipulas oblong. Fl. nu- 

 merous, handsome, racemose, variously coloured. Seeds 

 not eatable. 



1. Q.tuberosus. Common Bitter-vetch. Heath Pea. 

 Leaves pinnate, elliptic-lanceolate. Stipulas half-arrow- 

 shaped ; toothed at the base. Stem simple, erect. 



O. tuberosus. Linn. Sp. PL 1028. fVilklv. 3. 1074. Fl. Br. 761 . 



Engl.Bot.v. 17. i. 1153. Curt.Lond.fasc. 1. t. 53. Hook. Scot. 



213. 

 0.n.417. Hall. Hist. V.]. 181. 

 O. sylvaticus, foliis oblongis glabris. Raii Syn. 324. 

 O. radice tuberosa. Riv. Tetrap. Irr. t.59. 

 Lathyrus angustifolius, radice tuberosa. Loes. Pruss. 138. t. 37. 

 Astragalus sylvaticus. Ger. Em. \237.f. Sibb. Scot.p. 2. \l. t. I. 



Thai. Harcyn. 7 .t.\. 

 /3. Orobus tenuifolius. Roth Germ. v. \. 305. Hoffm. Germ, for 



1791. 253. D. Don in Tr. of Wern. Soc.v. 3. 301. 



In rather mountainous pastures, thickets^ and woods. 



Perennial. May, June. 



Root creeping, externally blackish, swelling here and there into 

 oblong knobs. Herb smooth, darkish green. Stems simple, 

 erect, a foot high, compressed and winged, leafy. Leaves al- 

 ternate, each of 2, 2{, or 3 pair of lanceolate, somewhat ellip- 

 tical, ribbed, entire, bluntish or acute, leaflets, their common 

 footstalk projecting a little beyond them, but not bearing a ten- 

 dril. Stipulas strongly toothed and extended at the base, va- 

 rious in width. Fl. in loose, long stalked, axillary clusters, ele- 

 gantly variegated and veined, with purple, crimson, and shades 

 of blue and flesh-colour. Legumes pendulous, long, cylindrical, 

 black when ripe. 



The roots have a sweetish taste, and afford some luxuries and re- 

 freshments to the hardy independent Highlander. There is con- 

 siderable elegance in the flowers, and in the plant altogether. 

 (3, an obvious variety, found in various parts of England as well 

 as in Scotland, differs in having narrow linear leaflets. 



2. O. sylvaticus. Wood Bitter-vetch. 



Stems recumbent, hairy, branched. Leaflets numerous. 



O. sylvaticus. Linn. Sp. PI. 1029. TVilld. v. 3. 1076. Fl. Br. 762. 

 Engl. Bot.v.S.t. 518. Lightf.390. t. IG. Hook.Scot.2l3. Lond. 

 t.8: Dicks. H. Sice. fasc. I. 12. 



