OROBUS Vernus.
Spring Orobus.
Class and Order.—Diadelphia Decandria.
| Syn. | Orobus Vernus. | Car. Bot. Mag. pl. 521. |
| — | Orobus Vernus. | Hor. Kew. vol. 3. p. 38. |
Root fibrous—stem erect, branching, one foot or more in height—stipules large, sagittate, auriculate—leaves pinnate—leaflets ovate, acute—peduncles long, axillary—pedicels very short—calyx five cleft, base obtuse, tinted with red—flower papilionaceous—vexillum pink, broadly ovate, margin undulate—alæ blue, obtuse; carina white—stamens ten, united by their filaments into two parcels, nine in one set, with a single one separate—style one.
The Orobus vernus is a most valuable Spring flower, and is one of the earliest of our herbaceous plants;—it is a native of the middle and south of Europe, and was first introduced into this country about the year 1629;—a light soil suits it best, though being very hardy it will flourish in any situation, and considering the facility with which it is cultivated, it is surprizing it is not more common;—it flowers in March, and is increased by dividing the roots or by seed—some of the most desirable species are
| O. niger. | albus. |
| — varius. | tuberosus. |
| — lathyroides. | variegatus. |
| — luteus. | ochroleucus. |
Pl. 11.