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BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
1.—THE TUBEROUS BITTER VETCH. (Orobus tuberosus, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 1153 ; 2nd ed., t. 998. 
Specific Character. —Quite smooth. Roots tuberous. Stems 
prostrate. Leaves of two or four pairs : leaflets elliptical, mucronate, 
dotted, with nearly parallel veins. Stipules half-sagittate. Peduncles 
Description, &c. —This species is very common in 
in thickets, spreading rapidly by its underground stems, 
bearing few flowers, and scarcely longer than the leaves. Teeth of 
the calyx unequal, ovate, obtuse, shorter than the tube. Pods com¬ 
pressed, with obsoletely-reticulated veins. Seeds spherical. (Lindley.) 
the north of England, and in Scotland, where it grows 
which at intervals thicken into tubers. These tubers 
have a sweet taste, resembling that of liquorice ; and Sowerby informs us “ that they are chewed by the High¬ 
landers to assuage hunger and thirst, and in some parts of Scotland a fermented liquor is prepared from them, 
which is said to be an agreeable beverage. In Flanders they are often roasted and eaten in the manner of 
chestnuts.” The species is a perennial, and it flowers in May and June. There is a variety with very narrow 
leaves. 
THE BLACK BITTER VETCH. (O. nicer, Lin.) 
This plant has only been found wild in Scotland ; but it has been long cultivated in gardens. Mr. Loudon 
was particularly partial to this plant for its pretty, though simple flowers, and its light and elegant appearance. 
It is a perennial, and it flowers in June and July. The specific name alludes to the plant becoming black 
when dried. 
THE WOOD BITTER VETCH. (O. sylvaticus, Lin.) 
This species is very common in all the mountainous districts of Great Britain. It is a perennial, and its 
flowers, which are cream-coloured with purple streaks, appear in May and June. 
III. —THE SAINTFOIN TRIBE. 
The flower is papilionaceous ; and the stamens are either all joined together, or they are in two packets, one 
consisting of nine, and the other of one ; or they are in two of five each. The seed-pod is divided into numerous 
joints, containing one seed in each. The cotyledons are thin, and in germination they rise above the ground, and 
become green. The genera contained in this tribe are in the same Linnsean class and order as the last tribe. 
GENUS XVII. 
THE BIRD’S-FOOT. (Ornithopus, Lin.) 
Lin. Syst. DIADELPH1A DECANDRIA. 
Generic Character. —Calyx with bracte®, tubular, nearly equally 
5-toothed. Keel very small and compressed. Stamens diadelphous. 
Pod compressed, consisting of numerous 1-seeded, indehiscent joints, 
truncate equally on each side, with parallel margins.—Hairy aunuals. 
Leaves pinnate. Stipules small, adhering to the petiole, 
axillary, few-flowered. Flowers small, white or rose-colour, 
pinnated bractea under each head. {Dec.) 
Peduncles 
A leafy 
Description, &c. —The only species of this genus which is a native of Britain is O. perpusillus, a little 
annual with very small flowers, which appear in May. The seed-pods appear in bunches, which, from their 
curiously jointed appearance, resemble a bird’s-foot, and hence the English name of the plant. The scientific 
name has the same signification. 
