ASTRAG ALUS MONSPESSULANUS. 
MONTPELIER MILK-VETCH. 
Class. Order. 
DIADELPHTA. DECANDRIA. 
Natural Order. 
LEGUMINOSjE. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
Introduced 
France. 
1 foot. 
June, July. 
Perennial. 
in 1710. 
No. 531. 
Astragalus is a name which was used by Dios- 
corides; and applied, it is believed, to our Orobus 
vernus. It has several significations in the Greek 
language, as a bone of the foot, a vertebral bone, and 
a die, to play with. The connexion between any 
of these, and the plant under consideration, we are 
unable to explain. 
This is one amongst the humble but engaging 
subjects of the flower border, which only requires to 
be seen well established in its beauty, to be remem- 
bered with pleasure. It will soon form a compact 
tuft, of a foot in diameter, producing abundance of 
flowers, and defying the most fastidious to accuse it 
of one vagrant or straggling habit. It is a suita- 
ble plant for growth on artificial rock work, where 
it will be displayed with greater advantage than on 
the low parterre. 
Although the Astragalus Monspessulanus has 
been known in England more than a hundred years, 
it is by no means commonly met with. It may be 
raised from seeds, or divided at the root, when in- 
crease is required ; or cuttings may be struck un- 
der a hand-glass. 
Don’s Syst. Bot. v. 2, 270. 
