ONOBRY'CHIS SATI'VA. 
COJIirON SAINTFOIN. 
Class. Order. 
DIADELPHIA. DECANDRIA. 
Natural Order. 
LEGUMINOS^. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
Inhabits 
Britain. 
2| feet. 
July, Aug. 
Perennial. 
Chlky. Pas. 
No. 1017. 
Onobrychis is derived from the Greek onos, an 
ass ; and brychis, to gnaw. This word alludes 
to the partiality of the animal for the plant. By 
some authors it has been ranked as a species of 
Hedysarum, by others as an Astragalus. It is an 
agricultural plant, hettcr knoA\Ti in France than 
England, and by the French called L’esparcet. 
As Saintfoin is so perfectly hardy, and also or- 
namental in the flower borders, it ought to be 
generally known amongst florists, even if unduly 
neglected by agriculturists. If sown in the spring 
it will blossom in autumn, and continue for several 
years, flowering annually, a month or two earlier 
than the first summer of its growth. Its roots nin 
deeply into the earth, and it is desirable that these 
should not he disturbed, therefore increase of good 
plants is with more certainty obtained from seed ; 
and these should be sown in the situation the 
plants are intended permanently to occupy. 
It is, however, to the agriculturist that this 
plant is of most importance. It has met much 
more attention in France and Germany than in 
England ; although England certainly has many 
255 . 
