;t
many-flowered, densely crowded. Flowers all facing to one
side, of a bright purple lilac, striped and netted with darker
bright purple, becoming at last of a greenish blue. Pedicles
short, hairy. Bractes at the base of the pedicles, very small,
awl-shaped. Calyiv tubular, rounded at the base, two-lipped,
pubescent: upper lip very short, terminated in two short,
broadish, acute teeth or segments : lower one bearing three
narrow taper-pointed segments, the middle one narrowest.
Vexillum obcordate, retuse, narrowing to the base, bearing
two scale-like processes, where it clasps the wings, and indented
a little at the back. Wings unguiculate, each broadly
eared on one side. Keel about the length of the wings, acute,
sharply keeled, alittleinflated, unguiculate and eared on each
side. Stamens 10, diadelphous, one distinct and 9 united.
Ovarium flat, pubescent. Style narrow, linear, villous near
the point on the under side. a simple sharp point. Pod
flat, striate, many-seeded. Seeds flattish, oblong, flattened at
both ends, of a light yellowish brown colour, and not spotted.
This handsome Spring flowering plant is well deserving
a place in every collection of hardy plants, as it comes into
flower soon after its near ally O. vernus, bearing a succession
of flowers through May to the beginning of June, though the
time of its flowering depends a good deal on the forwardness
of the Spring; after flowering, if is succeeded by abundance
of ripe seed-pods, so that it is readily increased; and it only
wants to be better known to be in general cultivation, needing
no care but to be planted in the open border, and to be
kept clear from weeds.
Our drawing was made from a fine plant in the garden
belonging to the Apothecaries’ Company at Chelsea.
The generic name is derived from opw to excite, and flovg
an ox, from its herbage being good for cattle.
I: ■;
tir Hr
1. Calyx. 2. Vexillmn. 3. The two wings. 4. Keel. 5. The 10 Stamens, 9 united
Into a tube’, but distinct at the points, the tube spread open. 6. Ovarium terminated by
the style and acute Stigma. 7. Ripe Pod. l!-'’