Oxytropis
(from oxys, sharp, and tropis, a keel; the keel ends in a sharp point). ORD. Leguminosae. An extensive genus (nearly 100 species) of hardy, much-branched herbs, sub-shrubs, or small shrubs, allied to Astragalus. They are found in the mountainous or cold regions of Asia, North America, and Europe. Flowers violet, purple, white, or pale yellowish, in axillary spikes or racemes, or springing from the stem; standard erect, ovate or oblong; petals unguiculate. Pods sessile or stipitate. Leaves impari-pinnate; leaflets entire, exstipellate. Several species are very handsome, but many which were at one time much grown are now lost to cultivation. They are of easy culture in any ordinary soil, but prefer a dry sandy loam. Propagated by seeds, sown in their permanent quarters; and by dividing the plant in spring. All the species mentioned below are pretty, dwarf-growing perennials. O. campestris (field). fl. cream-coloured, the keels and wings tinged with purple, erect; spikes ovate-oblong, dense-flowered; scapes hairy, about equal in length to the leaves. July. l., leaflets many pairs, lanceolate, acute, hoary, and rather hairy. h. 3in. to 6in. Europe (Scotland). A pretty little alpine plant. (Sy. En. B. 374.) O. foetida (foetid). fl. cream-coloured; spikes capitate, few-flowered; scapes rather longer than the leaves, woolly at the apex. June to August. l. with many pairs of lanceolate-linear, clammy, glabrous leaflets. South France, &c., 1819.
O. frigida racemosa (frigid, racemed). fl. 1/2in. long, in a short, spike-like raceme; peduncles longer than the leaves, hairy. l. erect, pinnate, 3in. to 4in. long, having narrow-lanceolate leaflets of a glaucous hue, and covered with adpressed hairs. Turkestan, 1884. Plant stemless. (R. G. 1154, f. 2, f-k.) O. grandiflora (large-flowered). fl. of an intense rose-colour, large, loosely spicate; standard emarginate; scape twice as long as the leaves. June. l. oblong-lanceolate, adpressedly silky. h. 6in. Siberia, 1820. O. Halleri (Haller's). fl. of a rich bluish-purple colour, rarely white, in round, dense heads; scapes solitary or twin, longer than the leaves. July. l., leaflets ovate, acute. Plant stemless, clothed with silky hairs in every part. h. 6in. Europe (Scotland). An elegant little species for rockwork. (Sy. En. B. 373.) O. Lambertii (Lambert's).* fl. rosy-carmine, large, spicate or capitate; scape rather longer than the leaves. August. l., leaflets lanceolate, acute, rather remote. h. 6in. to 12in. North America, 1811. Plant stemless, silky and pilose in every part. A rare and beautiful rock-plant. (B. M. 2147; B. R. 1054.) O. montana (mountain).* fl. bluish, with a purplish calyx; racemes short; scape a little longer than the leaves. July. l., leaflets elliptic-lanceolate. Plant almost stemless, villous, the hairs on the petioles and scape spreading. h. 6in. Europe, 1581.
O. ochroleuca (yellowish-white). fl. yellowish-white, small, drooping, in short racemes; peduncles long, and, together with the calyx and ovary, covered with blackish hairs. l. pinnate, 3in. to 4in. long, with oblong-lanceolate leaflets. Stem short, ascending, glaucescent. Turkestan, 1884. (R. G. 1154, f. 1, a-e).
O. pilosa (long-haired). fl. pale yellow, disposed in ovate-oblong spikes; peduncles axillary, longer than the leaves. July. l., leaflets lanceolate, acute. Stem erect, softly pilose. h. 6in. Siberia, 1732. (B. M. 2483; J. F. A. 51, under name of Astragalus pilosus.) O. pyrenaica (Pyrenean).* fl. sky-blue, erect, crowded, on a short raceme, which ultimately becomes elongated-oval; scapes set with stellate hairs. Summer. l., leaflets lanceolate or oblong, pointed, somewhat concave, covered with long, silky hairs. h. 4in. to 6in. Central Pyrenees.