6 



ONOBRYCHIS RADIATA. 



of that harmony and perfection which pervades the most minute of Nature's works, 

 will not fail to admire the delicacy of its tints, the graceful pencilling of the purple 

 lines which decorate its petals, and the beautifully radiated seed-vessels by which 

 they are succeeded. There is also a capricious irregularity in the foliage, which, 

 as it is not dependent upon age, is worthy of notice ; the markings of the leaves 

 on some stems being dark, on some pale, while in others they are altogether 

 absent. It is allied (by description) to Pallasii, a plant which as yet we are not 

 fortunate enough to possess. 



The genera Hedysarum and Onobrychis were much confounded by Linnseus 

 and other authors ; and indeed at the present day it would be difficult to deter- 

 mine, without the seed-vessel, to which of the two a plant might belong. The 

 principal distinction between them is, that Hedysarum has a seed-vessel with 

 many joints, while that of Onobrychis has only one. 



It is a native of Caucasus, Iberia, and Cappadocia, inhabiting the hilly parts of 

 rocky districts. Mr. Loudon, in his Hortus Britannicus, states its first introduc- 

 tion to be in the year 1818 ; still we have every reason to believe it to be, even at 

 the present time, a scarce plant in this country. 



It is said to be perennial, (biennial V) is perfectly hardy, and grows about two 

 feet high. For its culture the soil should be light and dry, by no means stiff or 

 wet, as so situated its root would probably perish. Should it prove to be perennial, 

 it may be increased by dividing the root ; if biennial, by seeds, as they are 

 produced freely, and retain their vegetating power for at least three years. 



Its name Onobrychis is derived from the Greek onos, an ass, and brycho, to 

 gnaw, in allusion to the fondness of cattle for this tribe of plants ; its specific 

 name, radiata, refers to the radiated lines on the seed-vessels. 



Fig. 1, calyx magnified ; 2, standard natural size ; 3, keel natural size; 4, the 

 filaments combined in two sets ; 5, wings drawn in proportion to the size of the 

 calyx ; 6, an unripe seed-vessel, showing the rays and prickles in the centre, 

 natural size ; 7, an unripe seed, natural size. 



