1901 | Jones, — Lathyrus tuberosus in Vermont. 231 
Hooker, but so far as I can learn it has not heretofore been reported 
from America. This seems strange for the flowers are almost equal 
in color and fragrance to those of the common sweet pea although 
only two-thirds as large. Z. /wberosus is a perennial with creeping 
root-stocks bearing numerous tubers or tuberous roots. These have 
an agreeable flavor, suggestive of green peas, and are reputed edible. 
It is not only perfectly hardy in Vermont but is abundantly able to 
persist as a weed. Miss Fisher has watched its development and 
spread in a moist meadow during some ten years. At first only a 
few plants occurred, but now it is scattered over a number of acres 
and for a distance of forty rods. The land has been under cultiva- 
tion with corn and potato crops during a part of this period and the 
persistent spreading of the species under these conditions has finally 
alarmed the owner of the field. It forms dense circular patches 
resembling Vicia Cracca in habit and like that species it smothers the 
grasses and clovers in the area where it occurs. 
Its mode of introduction is a mystery. The location precludes 
the idea that it is a garden escape. Some horses were brought to 
this farm from France fifteen or more years ago and possibly it was 
introduced at that time. I recently showed the plant to Mr. F. H. 
Horsford of Charlotte and he at once recognized it as the same plant 
that seedsmen have sent to him under the name Lathyrus rotundifolius. 
The identification of the plant as Z. tuberosus has, however, been 
. confirmed at the National Herbarium. Mr. Horsford has had the 
plant in his nursery at Charlotte for some time but he has recently 
omitted it from his catalogues partly because he considered it too 
likely to become a weed pest. I am confident that the plant is in 
Vermont to stay unless unusual efforts are made to eradicate it. 
Since it has been distributed somewhat by seedsmen it probably 
occurs in other places in this country as a garden escape. 
UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT. 
