240 Rhodora [October 



Lathyrus Nissolia, a recent Introduction in the State of 

 Washington: — Early in May I observed on the Western slope of the 

 dry hillside leading to the campus of the State College of Washington, 

 Pullman, what appeared to be a grass, different from that commonly 

 grown in this section. The shade of green was distinctly more vivid 

 than that of the other plants by which it was surrounded. Several 

 times during the month of May this spot was visited and attention 

 was attracted to the rapid and very vigorous growth which this little 

 plant was making. On June 6th, 1921, the first brilliant, crimson, 

 papilionaceous flowers appeared and at the end of three weeks the 

 plants were blooming in great profusion. In this new garb the grass- 

 like appearance of the plant was altered by the bright flowers which 

 showed it to be a member of the Lcgum'uiosae. 



A single plant carelessly removed from the very shallow soil, where 

 it was growing so well, revealed thickly noduled rootlets. In the 

 immediate vicinity there was growing very sparsely Latht/rus Saiul- 

 bergii Howell. This was also in flower. The resemblance be- 

 tween the two was so great that the attempt was made to identify 

 the former by aid of Piper and Beattie's Flora of Southeastern Wash- 

 ington and Adjacent Idaho, as a member of the same genus. No 

 description in this flora covered this legume. The specimen was then 

 given to Dr. Harold St. John, Professor of Botany in the State College 

 of Washington, who identified it as Lathyrus Ninolia L. 



An effort to account for the presence of this little pea growing in 

 Pullman has resulted in failure. There is no record of this species ever 

 having been planted here and a search through the literature fails to 

 reveal any record of its introduction in North America. Pressed 

 specimens have been placed in the herbarium of the State College of 

 Washington and the Gray Herbarium, Cambridge, Mass. — Charles 

 S. Parker, Pullman, Washington. 



Vol. 23, no. 272, including pages 181 to 200, was issued If) December, 1921. 

 The date of no. 273, still in press, loill be announced later. 



