400 The Ohio Naturalist. [Vol. XV, No. 2, 



Key to the Species. 



1. Flowers white, seeds globular. Pistim sativum. (1). 

 1. Flowers bluish to dull white with purple on the wings, seeds slightly 

 angular, usually gray. Pisiim arvense. (2). 



1. Pisum sativum L. Common Pea. An erect or climbing 

 glabrous annual with a hollow angular stem /2-6 ft. high and }i in. 

 in diameter. Leaflets 1-3 pairs, 1-2 in. long, K-/4 in. wide, 

 the stipules as large, or larger than the leaflets. Flowers %-/^ 

 in. long, white; pods 2-3 in. long, K-/4 in. wide, the seeds globular, 

 green to yellow, smooth or wrinkled. 



The Common Pea has been cultivated for food for many- 

 hundred years. The seed is used in the green or dry condition. 

 By the use of a machine called the viner, the green peas are 

 ready for the cans in a few hours after being cut, making it pos- 

 sible for the canned product to be in good condition. The ripe 

 seed is used for split-pea soup. 



2. Pisum arvense. L. Field Pea. A climbing or erect 

 glabrous annual with an angular stem, 2-5 ft. high and )i in. in 

 diameter. Leaflets 1-3 pairs, 1-2 in. long, )^-% in. wide, the 

 stipules as large or larger than the leaflets. Flowers /4-}2 in. 

 long, blue to dull white with purple on the wings; pods lK-2 in. 

 long, K-% in. wide, the seed angular, usually gray. 



The Field Pea is cultivated in Ohio for soiling, pasturage and 

 dry feed. It thrives best in a cool, moist climate. For this 

 reason, Canada has made the greatest advance in Field Pea 

 culture. It is often called Canada Pea. 



Phaseole^. Bean Tribe. 



Dark-green herbs or vines usually pubescent, the stem round 

 or roundish, erect or twining counter-clockwise. Leaves odd- 

 pinnate, usually trifoliate, but leaflets sometimes 1-7. Flowers 

 axillary, usually racemose, but sometimes capitate or solitary. 



The cotyledons are usually pushed above ground during 

 sprouting. The Phaseoleae are cultivated for soiling, hay and 

 seed. They supply an important part of the food of man. 



Key to the Genera. 



1. Leaves pinnate with 5-7 leaflets. Glycine. 2. 



1. Leaves trifoliate or uniofoliate. 2. 



2. Style bearded along the inner side. 3. 



2. vStyle glabrous or pube.scent only at the upper end or at the base. 4. 



3. Flowers racemed, the keel of the corolla spirally coiled. Phaseohis. (5). 



3. Flowers capitate, or if somewhat racemose, then the keel of the corolla 



only slightly incurved. G. 



4. Style bearded at the summit about the stigma. Dolichos (1). 



4. Stjde glabrous at the upper end, sometimes pubescent at the lower part. 5. 

 .5. Stem erect; annual; cultivated. Soja. (3). 



5. Stem trailing; perennial; native. Falcata. (4). 



6. Flowers capitate or in peduncle heads; corolla purple, keel of the corolla 



strongly incurved; native. Strophostyles. (6). 

 6. Flowers capitate or somewhat racemose, corolla yellow, white or 

 purple. Keel of the corolla short, slightly incurved; cultivated. 



Vigna. (7). 



