Dec, 1914.] Viciece and Phaseolece of Ohio. 397 



8. Vicia sativa L. Common Vetch. A three to five-branched 

 climbing annual, 1-4 ft. high, with the stem Ys in. m diameter. 

 Leaves 4-6 in. long, oval or obovate, %-)^ in. long, %-% in. wide, 

 mucronate; tendrils branched; stipules broad. Peduncle short 

 or wanting; flowers axillary 1-2, %-% in. long, purple, pod pubes- 

 cent, 2-3 in. long, %& in. wide, the 5-10 seeds brown to black. 



Beneath the outer coat the seed of Vicia sativa is orange- 

 yellow. It may readily be distinguished from Vicia villosa,. 

 which is lemon-yellow under the seed coat. Vicia sativa has been 

 introduced from Europe, and is used as a forage or cover crop. 

 Care must be observed in feeding this plant to pigs as cases of 

 poisoning have been reported. It is also called Spring Vetch 

 and Smooth Vetch. 



9. Vicia angustifolia L. Narrow-leaf Vetch. A small climb- 

 ing glabrous annual, 1-2 ft. long, the diameter of the stem Me in. 

 Leaves 2 in. long, leaflets, except the lower ones hnear or linear 

 oblong, Ys-l in. long, Ke in. wide; tendrils branched, the stipules 

 half -sagittate, entire. Peduncle very short or wanting the 

 flowers, 1-2 in the upper axils, purple; pods linear, glabrous, 

 1-2 in. long, %-% in. broad. 



Vicia angustifolia has been introduced from Europe and is- 

 found escaped in Lake County. 



3. Ervum L. Lentil. 



Weakly erect herbaceous annuals with angled stems. Leaves- 

 pinnate, the leaves two to many; tendrils simple or compound, 

 stipules semi sagittate. Flowers small, racemose or soHtary on 

 axillary peduncles; calyx lobes elongated; style usually more or 

 less hairy, flat; stamen tube diagonal at the summit; pod two- 

 seeded. 



1. Ervum lens L. Lentil. A glabrous or finely pubescent 

 annual with a 4-angled stem 1-2 ft. high and K2-/8 in. in diameter. 

 Leafiets oblong, %-l in. long, %&-% in. wide; tendrils branched, 

 stipules semi-sagittate. Flowers %-% in. long, white to purple; 

 pod 2-seeded, the seeds orbicular, gray or red. 



The lens of optical instruments is named from its resemblance 

 to this seed. The mess of pottage for which Esau sold his birth- 

 right to his brother Jacob is said to have been made of lentils. 

 They are very commonly used for soup. 



4. Lathyrus L. 



Climbing or trailing vines with tendril-bearing leaves and 

 often with a winged stem. Leaves ending in a simple or branched 

 tendril; the leaflets 1-6 pairs; veining on the underside prominent; 

 stipules generally smaller than the leaflets. Flowers racemose or 

 solitary, generally showy, purple, yellow or white; stamen tube 

 with a flat top; style without a groove, bearded along the inner 

 side; pods dehiscent, the seeds brown to black. 



