Phaca
(from Phake, an old Greek name applied by Theophrastus to a leguminous plant). Bastard Vetch. ORD. Leguminosae. A genus of hardy, herbaceous perennials, now included, by Bentham and Hooker, under Astragalus (which see for characters and culture).
P. alpina (alpine). fl. yellow. July. Pods compressed, half-ovate, acute, smoothish. l. with nine to twelve pairs of oblong, obtuse, pubescent leaflets. h. 1ft. Alps, &c., 1759. (F. D. 856.) The variety dahurica is firmer and more erect, with a harder pod.
P. baetica (Baetic). fl. white, the size and shape of those of Sutherlandia. September. Pods oblong, boat-shaped, compressed. l. with seven to ten pairs of ovate, mucronate leaflets, which are villous beneath. h. 1ft. to 2ft. South Europe, &c., 1640. (S. F. G. 727.) P. frigida (cold). fl. cream-coloured. July. Pods stipitate, oblong, inflated, rather hairy. l. with four to six pairs of ovate-oblong, rather ciliated leaflets. Stems erect, glabrous, almost undivided. h. 1ft. North Europe, &c., 1795. (J. F. A. 166.)