Circular No. 11— (Agros. 43.) 



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United States Department^f Agriculture, 



DIVISION OF AGROSTOL( 



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[Grass and Forage Plant Investigations.] 'V/ O'ys. 



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THE FLAT TEA. X<S 



DESCRIPTION. ^^ 



The flat pea is a variety of the woodland pea {Lathyrus 8ijh<es- 

 tris), which is not very different in appearance from the common 

 sweet, or everlasting, pea. It is a perennial, enduring sometimes for 



Fig. 1.— Plot of tint pea in the Grass Garden on the grounds of the Agricultural Department. 



twenty-five years or more, has strong, deep, much-branched roots, 

 and produces many trailing or climbing stems, which interlace in 

 great tangled masses. The rather handsome rose-colored flowers 

 are borne in loose clusters and are followed by pods not unlike those 

 of the common pea. 



This pea is a native of Europe, and is most abundant in the cen- 

 tral and southern parts, extending into northern Africa. It is found 

 in thickets and hedgerows, and on rocky hillsides, blossoming through- 

 out the summer. A variety has long been cultivated for ornament 

 in English gardens under the name of everlasting pea. 



