Dorycnium
(the old Greek name of a species of Convolvulus, from dory, a spear). Including Bonjeania. ORD. Leguminosoe. A genus of about half-a-dozen species of elegant hardy herbs or sub-shrubs. Flowers capitate or sub-umbellate, usually numerous. Leaves trifoliolate, with the stipules in the form of the leaflets. All are of the easiest culture in rather dry soil, and are readily increased by seeds.
D. herbaceum (herbaceous). fl. white; heads on long peduncles. July. l.,leaflets and stipules obovate, obtuse. Stem herbaceous, erect. h. 1 1/2ft. South Europe, 1802.
D. hirsutum (hairy). fl. whitish, or pale red, large; heads many-flowered. July. l. sessile; leaflets ovate, lanceolate or obovate. Stem erect, suffruticose. h. 1ft. to 2ft. South Europe, 1683. Plant clothed with hoary tomentum. (B. M. 336, under name of Lotus rectus.) D. latifolium (broad-leaved). fl. white; peduncles many flowered, bracteate towards the apex. June. l. sessile; leaflets and stipules obovate and mucronulate. Stem erect, sub-shrubby. h. 1ft. to 2ft. East Europe, 1818. Plant pilose.
D. rectum (upright). fl. rose-coloured, small; peduncles bractless, many-flowered. June. l. petiolate; leaflets obovate, mucronate. Stem erect, shrubby. h. 2ft. South Europe, 1640. Plant villous.
D. suffruticosum (sub-shrubby).* fl. white, with a reddish keel; heads of flowers on long peduncles. June. l., leaflets and stipules oblong-lanceolate, acute. Stem shrubby. h. 2ft. to 3ft. South Europe, 1640. (S. F. G. 760, under name of Lotus Dorycnium.)