Culture of the Sweet Pea 673 



LATHYRUS MAGELLANICUS LAM. 



Seeds of this species were received from two American seedsmen, but 

 they proved to be the annual species. Lathyrus sativus L. The Cyclopedia 

 of American Horticulture describes this species as follows: " Stem 3-5 

 feet long, smooth, angled, somewhat branched; leaflets ovate or oblong- 

 linear; tendrils branched; stioules cordate-sagittate, broad; peduncles 

 long, 3-4-flowered; flowers dark purple-blue. June, July. Straits of 



Magellan A strong-growing, woody, almost evergreen species 



covered with a bluish bloom. Var. albus Hort. ... is the 



white form." 



LATHYRUS LATIFOLIUS L. 



Stems winged, 4-8 feet, glabrous; leaflets one pair, ovate-lanceolate, 

 rather glaucous, mucronate, 2-3 inches long; tendrils branching; stipules 

 broad ovate; peduncles many-flowered, longer than the leaves; legumes 

 long, flat, reticulated lengthwise, 4-5 inches long; seeds roundish, smooth. 

 Native of Europe, in woods. Flowers large, rose-colored, but horti- 

 cultural varieties occur with white, dark purple, and striped flowers. 



LATHYRUS NERVOSUS LAM. 



Stems triangular, striated, 1-2 feet long; petioles with one pair of ovate, 

 acute, mucronate, nerved, glaucous, glabrous leaflets, longer than the 

 intemodes; petioles very short; tendril branches long; stipules sagittate, 

 nearly two thirds size of leaflets, nerved; peduncles many-flowered; calyx 

 teeth unequal, upper ones shortest; pod 2^ inches, linear, glabrous, 

 containing 7-8 seeds; seeds irregular in form, brown, with smooth coats. 

 Native of the region about Montevideo. Flowers large, purple. 



LATHYRUS PRATENSIS L. 



Stems smooth, tetragonal, 2-3 feet; petioles with one pair of oblong- 

 linear or lanceolate leaflets; tendrils usually unbranched; stipules ovate, 

 shorter than the leaflets; peduncles many- flowered, twice the length of 

 leaves; calyx nerved, teeth nearly equal; legumes compressed, obliquely 

 reticulated ; seeds globular, smooth. Native of Europe, in moist mead- 

 ows. Flowers yellow. 



HISTORY OF THE CULTIVATED LATHYRUS 



The word " Lathyrus " is from the Greek .!«, la, augmentative, and 

 i^ovpo<i, thouros, anything exciting, having reference to the qualities of 

 the seeds of certain species. In Europe the species of Lathyrus are 

 known as "Gcsse," the sweet pea being known as Gesse odorante. The 

 French know the plant under this name, or occasionally as Pois odorante 



