146 THE LADIES' FLOWER-GAEDEN 
3.— OXYTROPIS PILOSA, Dec. THE DOWNY MOUNTAIN MILK VETCH. 
the rest of the plant ; leaflets lanceolate, acute ; peduncles axillary, 
longer than the leaves ; spikes ovate-oblong ; legumes erect, terete, 
hooked at the apex, villous. (G. Don.) 
Synonymes. — Astragalus pilosus, lin, ; A. villosus, Amm. ; A. 
erectus. Hall. ; Cicer montanum, Jiauh. 
ENGRiviNG. — Bot. Mag. t. 2483. 
Specific Chahacteb. — Stem erect, beset with soft hairs, as well as 
Desceiption, &c. — This is one of the erect species with the leaves in pairs. The flowers are green, and 
consequently not showy, though they are pretty when closely examined. The plant is a native of Siberia, 
whence it was introduced in 1732. 
OTHER SPECIES OF OXYTROPIS. 
Many other species are mentioned in books, though I have not given any details respecting them, as they are 
rarely seen in gardens. 
GENUS XI. 
ASTRAGALUS, Lin. THE MILK VETCH. 
Lin. St/St. DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA. 
Generic Character. — Calyx five-toothed. Keel of flowers obtuse. Stamens diadelphous. Legume bilocular, or half bilocular, from the 
upper suture being bent in so much, (G. Don.) 
Description, &c. — The species belonging to this genus are extremely numerous, but they bear a striking 
resemblance to each other in general appearance and the shape of the flowers. The name of Astragalus is generally 
said to signify Milk Star ; but this meaning does not seem in any way applicable to the plants. Others derive 
the name of Astragalus from a Greek word, signifying vertebroe, and others from a kind of dice ; but these 
explanations are as inapplicable as the other. 
1.— ASTRAGALUS PROCUMBENS, Hook. THE PROCUMBENT MILK VETCH. 
11-14 pairs of elliptic, retuse leaflets ; peduncles racemose, longer th&a 
the leaves ; wings of flowers not half so long as the keel j legumes, in 
an immature state, linear, hairy, and rcflexed. (G. Don.) 
Engravings. — Bot. Mag. t. 3263 ; and omjig. 5 in Plate 35. 
Specific Character. — Plant clothed with hirsute tomentum in 
every part ; stems prostrate, branched ; stipules concrete ; leaves with 
Description, &c. — This very pretty delicate-looking plant is a native of South America, whence it was 
introduced in 1 831. It appears to require a slight protection during winter. 
2.— ASTRAGALUS VESICARIUS, Lin. THE BLADDER MILK VETCH, OR WHITE ITALIAN 
MILK WORT. 
Synonymes.— A. albidus, Waldst.et Kit. i A. dealbatus, Patf. .• Specific Characteh.— Plant covered with a silky pubescence. 
A. glaucus, JBieb. 
Engraving.— Bot. M-ig. t. 3268. 
Leaves with five or seven pairs of elliptic leaflets. Peduncles much 
longer than the leaves. Calyx bladdery. Legumes hairy, longer than 
the calyx. 
Description, &c. — This is a dwarf species, but with a long descending root, so that it requires a loose deep 
soil. It is a native of sandy wastes in the South of France, Russia and Hungary, whence it was introduced in 
1637. The flowers are produced in tufted heads, and are of a very rich deep purple, becoming blue when they 
fade; and though the rame of White Italian Milk Vetch, and some of the botanic names applied to this species, 
have induced some persons to think that the flowers are white in a wild state, the names implying whiteness 
appear only applied to the silky down of the leaves and stems. 
